Off the football field, Laschet assures the Germans they can continue to pretend to be weak

The front-runner to succeed Merkel has perfected the art of making not having a row, indeed not making a decision, sound reasonable.

Johnson’s marriage shows he is more normal, prudent and pragmatic than his critics can begin to imagine

His enemies yearn to place the PM in an ideological box, and smash him to pieces for having the wrong opinions. He refuses to oblige them.

Richard Holden: Why Labour’s grip on seats like mine weakened. And how we can strengthen our own everywhere.

This is a story of institutions, work and habits changing out of recognition – and how we can improve our position and the country once we’re heard.

Interview. Therese Coffey – “An element of a kinder politics is not calling other people bigots because you don’t agree with them.”

Here’s her take on Universal Credit, science, Liverpool, same-sex marriage – and her department. “Big thanks to the Jabs Army, we are the Jobs Army.”

George Freeman: The industrial strategy reforms I led helped to deliver Britain’s vaccine success. Now for the next phase.

I’m delighted to have been asked to help set up the new Taskforce for Innovation and Growth through Regulatory Reform.

James Somerville-Meikle: The Conservative Party and the Catholic community can find much common ground

The role of the Duke of Wellington and Robert Peel in bringing about Catholic emancipation in this country provides strong foundations.

Britain’s relationship with the EU: no love affair, followed by a bad marriage and a stormy divorce

In his new history, Stephen Wall describes the unbridgeable divide on Europe into which any Prime Minister is in danger of tumbling.

James Somerville-Meikle: Religious services are essential for many people; the Government must not stop them again.

Furthermore, there have been huge efforts at places of worship to stop the spread of the virus.

James Somerville-Meikle: The SNP’s overhaul of hate crime legislation is a threat to freedom of expression in Scotland

Criminal behaviour under the new law would be based on offence caused, rather than intended – a significant difference to England and Wales.

Chris Whitehouse: Faith leaders have a moral duty to be better prepared for the next pandemic

Never again must the doors of our nation’s churches close for fifteen weeks straight. Religion is more than ritual – it is life itself.

A sign of the times. The remarkable quiet that follows Labour’s commitment to decriminalise abortion up until birth

It is not only pro-lifers who might jib at the United Kingdom acquiring one of the most permissive abortion laws in the world. 

Future of Education 2) Mark Lehain: Now we need full academisation and reformed funding

The second writer in our mini-series says that creating more grammars is a distraction from change that matters.

Interview. “Look, this is a Christian country”, says Hinds. But he adds that the cap on new faith schools’ admissions should stay.

At times, says the Education Secretary, the post he holds requires “a bold and vociferous and constant presence”. But “at other times less so”.

Interview: Lord Bird says homelessness is not just for Christmas, and the death penalty might deter knife crime

The founder of The Big Issue expresses his aversion to liberalism, and his disappointment with the middle class.

Lewes Bonfire. You really want to see the Big Society in action? Then here it is.

There is a spirit of liberty at this event, informed by the belief that traditional British freedom includes the right not just to make a lot of noise, but to be extremely rude.