Just popped inside, wifey’s watching a cooking show (not feeling well) and I heard the presenter asking a chef: “Why would I peel a fig?” My assumption is for the same reason we peel cows really.

The phrase “we will not let matters rest” sounds slightly menacing, but it’s completely opaque. Is it time for the Tories to define what they mean by it? The leading article in the Times argues that perhaps it is. ‘Now that the Irish have ratified the Lisbon treaty at the second attempt, the Conservative Party needs to listen to Robert Peel. In 1834 Peel issued a manifesto ...

I’m playing “catch up” tonight but a quick report on last week’s Forum meeting at the House of Commons. It is really lovely to have a meeting in this venue, even if was in committee room 9, the “Peel Room” named in honour of 19th century Tory Prime Minister, Robert Peel. No doubt the forces of...

Here’s an interesting exercise, especially for my more conservative (politically or theologically) friends. Wahlkabine has a questionaire that you can fill in to work out which party you would vote for in the Austrian elections. Click on the link and then click the huge "Starten" button. Don’t worry if your German isn’t up to scratch,

Andrew Simpson, right, the CEO of Peel Holdings and of Media City too appears to have been completely taken off the NO Campaign. Sent away. Canned. Binned. He was looking tired. And he has a Billion Pound business to run after all. But he was the ubiquitous Chair of the gaffe-prone GMMG "NO" operation too. Who has relieved him of his responsibilities? And why? Is there anything more to this than m...

Here's a link to the short video that was playing at the Conservative Conference earlier this week, but not broadcast by the BBC's televised coverage. The embed code appears to be broken, which is a problem I have encountered before with this variety of video player. Its pause and other controls never seem to work correctly either. Anyway, as for the video: not bad at all…

Guido features on his website this Conservative video, reinterpreting the party's history. It's rather good, but it does patch over history somewhat. The most obvious point is the appropriation of the progressive instincts of both Peel and Disraeli. The other...

A closing order has been obtained in relation to streets in the vicinity of Queen's Crescent in preparation for work to replace gas mains from the week beginning Monday 9th March. The order is to last for 12 weeks though it is to be hoped the work will not last all that time. The work and/or the diversions will affect Burgess Terrace, Peel Terrace, McLaren Road, and Cobden Crescent.

PEEL CENTRE'S ANNUAL DRONFIELD LECTURE Speaker..................Harry Barnes Subject...................That Was Parliament, That Was Time.......................7.30 pm Date........................Friday, 17 October Venue.....................Peel Centre, High Street, Dronfield Entrance Fee...........£5 (including wine and refreshments) A talk on my life as the local MP from 1987-2005 BLO...

sorry that last link didn't work - it's