Clegg’s career choice reflects how the House of Lords has become diminished

Parliament is struggling to retain senior figures. New peers should be chosen on their ability to raise the calibre of debate.

James Brokenshire: Our new planning framework for quality as well as quantity

As Sir Roger Scruton notes: “Architecture is a public art: whether we like it or not, we are forced to witness it.”

Shaun Spiers: The answer to the housing shortage is more planning, not less

And, as Boles says, we will never build the number of homes we need unless the state is building 100,000 a year.

Dan Pitt: Green politics can be deeply Tory – in its sense of conservation, piety, and obligation to those living and dead

Part of settling down and marking time, as Roger Scruton would say, is protecting our environment. Doing so is an unchosen obligation upon us.

Liam Booth-Smith: Westminster Council’s voluntary levy on the wealthy is to be applauded

Conservatives should restate the moral case for taxation and at the same time find innovative ways of revenue raising that are both popular and effective.

Peter Franklin: Ruling political tribes 2) The Conservatives. Gove is now in a position to emerge as kingmaker – or, just maybe, as King.

But unless his fully-developed vision of the future can capture heart-and-minds, I’d expect control of the party to stay with the mainstream.

Rebecca Lowe Coulson: Scruton’s European ideal poses unsettling questions

What about those who worship different gods, those who delight in civil rights movements, those mothers who want to go out to work?

“Most of what’s been built in my lifetime could be demolished without aesthetic cost”. Hayes’s speech on beauty: full text

It is not for nothing that the ‘hero’ of Ayn Rand’s despicable book ‘The Fountainhead’ is an architect.

Hayes’ speech on beauty in transport: full text

“Some who did the damage to our country were crass and careless. But some wrought monstrous havoc knowingly, wilfully. All of them Philistines. Well now the Philistines have met their David.”

Rebecca Coulson: Do we need One Nation conservatism?

In advancing controversial policies without an explanation other than economic return, the party has been left open to claims of acting from greed and elitism.

A knighthood for the movement. Congratulations, Sir Roger Scruton.

In recognising the philosopher’s work, this honour also recognises the importance of the wider conservative family.

Rebecca Coulson: Let’s raise a glass of wine to drink as Osborne hunts for sugar to tax

When more than 30 million of us regularly drink wine, why does the pub – not the wine bar – continue to represent political expediency?

Rebecca Coulson: The decision to cut funds for Carbon Capture and Storage is a mistake

Of course budgeting is about priorities: but the Comprehensive Spending Review decision seems short-termist and wrong.

Martin Parsons: Is the public sector prejudiced against Conservatives?

You can certainly get away with saying things about us that would be a sacking offence if aimed at things like religious beliefs.

Dan Pitt: What’s at the core of conservatism? Markets? Aspiration? Opportunity? No: at its beating heart is love, love, love

Our country, families, the environment, home – we love them all. The object of life is love and we ought to aspire toward the triumph of love.