Welsh Council Taxpayers face even higher bills

In Pembrokeshire there may be an increase of 12.5 per cent – breaking the Welsh Government’s “informal” five per cent cap.

Henry Hill: Foster calls for direct rule in Northern Ireland after meeting with Bradley

Also: Scottish Tories row in behind bid to wreck the Withdrawal Bill; infighting in Welsh Labour over method of electing new leader; and more.

Brexit has busted the myth of the fragile Union

As 2017 draws to a close, the United Kingdom is in better shape than many of its supporters had dared to hope.

Henry Hill: Davies attacks the Welsh political class for anti-Brexit groupthink

Also: Cairns criticised over future of Swansea tidal lagoon; SNP squeeze private schools as teacher crisis deepends; and Foster ‘was not fully warned’ about RHI risks.

Matt Smith: Welsh Labour’s two decades in power have left behind a lost generation of state school pupils

This year, Wales produced the lowest A* to C grade GCSE results since 2006, with the GCSE attainment gap between the best and worst performing areas widening.

Lewis Baston: The lessons of the 1987 Conservative landslide

It seems strange to think of Thatcher’s last triumph as the twilight of a Tory century, but that is how it now appears to electoral history.

Henry Hill: Democratic Unionists set their sights on Hermon after Brexit clash

Also: Welsh Labour abandon investigation into Sargeant as Jones faces fresh accusations; and Mundell suggests a dangerous retreat on EU powers.

By taking the fight to Jones, the Welsh Tories are guarding the Government’s western flank

Their aggressive campaign against the scandal-mired First Minister is helping to keep one of Labour’s most senior elected figures off the national chessboard.

Henry Hill: Tory and Plaid fury as Jones whips AMs against inquiry into bullying

Also: DUP gear up for enhanced role whilst working on border compromise; and Holyrood committee shows its teeth and plunges SNP policy into chaos.

Henry Hill: Welsh Conservatives pile pressure on embattled First Minister

Hammond tries to lure Stormont back to its feet with yet more powers; Scots Tories highlight Budget role; and more.

Henry Hill: Jones under mounting pressure over claims of ‘toxic’ ministerial bullying culture

Also: Scottish Labour plunge into chaos again as interim leader resigns; Brokenshire threatens MLAs’ pay; MPs debate ‘indyref2’; and more.

Richard Morgan: Why the Government should subsidise tidal power

It’s not just a matter of output: developing this pioneering industry would support tens of thousands of British jobs and demonstrate global leadership.

Robert Buckland: “We must speak the language of opportunity”. His lecture on Tory revival. Full text.

“The language should be that of giving people their chance to succeed and of being on their side – a “people politics” that many practice locally but which must be scaled up.”

Henry Hill: Brokenshire needs a plan for if the Ulster devolution talks fail

His toothless policy towards the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein has created an unsustainable democratic vacuum in Northern Ireland.

Henry Hill: SNP conference shows party’s divisions over independence strategy

Also: Brokenshire announces progress in Ulster devolution talks; Plaid Cymru break off compact with Labour; and Northern Irish Speaker accused of paramilitary links.