John O’Connell: Cuts to inheritance tax could help the new government

Perhaps the cost of dying all seems rather small fry, in relation to delivering Brexit by October 31. But there is likely to be a Budget ahead of the deadline.

Jeremy Hutton: There are 6,047 empty council-owned commercial properties in the UK – what a shocking waste

Providing security, insurance, maintenance and renovation of these vacant properties costs £74 million a year. Many could be converted into housing.

Andrew Kennedy: Unitary authorities can help save taxpayers’ money

Buck-passing between different authorities results in poor outcomes for residents and kickback from voters.

Bob Seely: Saving Britain billions. Ideas for the contenders in this leadership contest.

This is a contribution to the debate – now let’s see what the candidates offer during the week ahead.

John O’Connell: There are so many better ways of spending £50 billion than on HS2. Here are some of them.

The alternatives we publish today range from airfields to supertrams, roads to rail, bicycles to bridges.

Andrew Allum: New technology can save the NHS and social care system billions and improve patients’ lives

Hancock’s willingness to embrace such innovation is encouraging, and will bring sizeable benefits.

Chloe Westley: It’s the end of the line for HS2, or should be

The majority of Brits drive to work in a car or a van, but journalists and politicians get the train to work. I think that’s reflected in political discourse.

Huw Merriman: To ensure that the aid budget is spent carefully, let DFID, not the Foreign Office, control it

The Taxpayers’ Alliance is right to demand responsible stewardship of valuable resources. But we should not mess with the aid rules.

Chloe Westley: Why should MPs get a pay rise when they won’t keep their promises to the people?

There are some brilliant MPs, who go above and beyond. But the majority have hardly covered themselves in glory over Brexit.

Judy Terry: Councillors are still too passive in allowing costly procurement and infrastructure projects

There remains a culture in much of the public sector that no-one will ever be held to account for wasting money on unworkable vanity projects.

Let’s turn Railways Day into Scrap HS2 Day

“How would you feel if we spent the money on local transport links in the Midlands and the north?’’ Gove asked Conservative MPs last year.

James Frayne: Might the UK see its own Yellow Vest uprising?

Let us hope not. It’s unlikely, but not completely impossible. The Government must battle four trends to reduce the risk.

Chloe Westley: In praise of the small business people I met, who help create the wealth which keeps public services going

During this Budget run-up, many of those I met raised business rates as a killer, plus council tax, the apprenticeship levy, parking charges and corporation tax, too.

Graham Brady: Air Passenger Duty remains a tax on trade, so let it be cut in the Budget

It will also boost our economy and allow businesses to create new, modern jobs in an exciting growth sector.

Chloe Westley: Now we must seize the opportunities that Brexit offers

If I were May, I’d be listening to activists at fringe events instead of beating to Whitehall’s hesitant drum.