Russia’s friends and opponents abroad – and close to home

The Prime Minister won’t get some other EU countries where she wants them. Not to mention Juncker. (And Trump, for that matter.)

Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: May’s dominance is good for her but bad for the Commons

Only 28 years after the poll tax precipitated Thatcher’s downfall, no one called for a new system of local government finance.

Transition. There is a fishing furore. But where is the backlash over immigration?

The recent fall in net EU migration may be making an impact on public opinion. At any rate, now is the time to begin planning a durable post-transition immigration policy.

There must be a middle-ground between taking data-driven campaigning for granted and wild alarmism about its dangers

Given that most people don’t really understand what it is or how it works, it’s a field ripe for under- or over-reaction. Or, indeed, both at the same time.

“Conservative Party membership is 124,000.” Discuss.

There are different ways of reaching an estimate. But credit to Lewis for putting a figure out there.

Putin and the Kronsteen fallacy

It’s all too easy to ascribe the capabilities of Russia’s best chess players to its secret services. But consider a radical possibility: the latter have messed up.

Ministers are dicing with disaster if they’re not Ready on Day One for Brexit

Seeking to extend transition after all, thus re-raising the possibility of being stuck in it, or going ahead without proper systems in place would be an unacceptable choice.

It’s not enough for the Young Conservatives to be worthy – they must be fun

Not too fun, obviously. But without the social side CCHQ will only attract the already committed to their activist training courses.

As May squares up to one security challenge, Cameron reminds us of another: Islamist extremism – and its wider dimensions.

In Washington, the former Prime Minister ponders how his approach to tackling non-violent as well as violent extremism can be built on.

Meanwhile, here’s what’s been happening in the Brexit talks

Both sides have moved somewhat ahead of next week’s summit. Behind the scenes, Davis has been touring capital cities, while Juncker’s sidekick is enmeshed in scandal.

Watch Trump on Iran

We are so preoccupied with Brexit and Putin that we may have missed the significance of the President’s latest sacking-and-replacement.

Poor Russia

On corruption, fragility, innovation, human capital, creditworthiness, GDP per head – all the measures that count for most – the country is, to put it politely, not in a great place.

Javid’s integration strategy is long on plans, but short on measurable goals

Social cohesion is a tricky thing to quantify, but the Communities Secretary should explain how he plans to decide if his pilot programmes are a success or not.

Andrew Gimson’s Commons sketch: May looks at last as if she is finding her feet, Corbyn gives way to incurable vanity

The Leader of the Opposition admired himself for behaving like a backbench dissident.

Hammond’s seriousness, professionalism and – yes – dullness make Labour look lightweight

It is not that he dares to be dull, but that he cannot help being so. He has prudently turned it to his advantage.