PRESS RELEASE

Nearly 100 members and friends of the Peel Society attended the Annual Drayton Luncheon on Sunday, 19th March.  The chief guest of the Society was Philip Bushill-Matthews, Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands.  The Mayor and Mayoress of Tamworth, Councillor John Wells and Mrs Diane Wells also attended the function.

The photograph shows, left to right, Cllr John Wells, Mayor of Tamworth, Philip Bushill Matthews, Mrs Angela Bushill-Matthews, Norman Biggs, Chairman of the Peel Society, Committee member, Mrs Mavis Biggs and Mrs Diane Wells, Mayoress of Tamworth.

Philip Bushill-Matthews addressing the Peel Society

In his speech proposing the toast to the Peel Society, Philip Bushill-Matthews explained that Sir Robert Peel, squire of Drayton Manor and twice Home Secretary and Prime Minister, was convinced that free trade would bring prosperity to the industries of Britain.  Repealing the Corn Laws in 1846 allowed producers of surplus grain in Europe and North America to sell into the UK to the benefit of the working classes.  It also enabled the exporter countries to buy manufactured goods from the UK.

He said that the European Union is based on the same premise, albeit imperfectly.  60 years of peace has brought untold prosperity to our continent, thanks to the freer movement of goods and services.

The Cartoon presented to Philip Bushill-Matthews M.E.P

Philip Bushill-Matthews also explained the working of the relationship between the Commission and the European Parliament and the member states governments.  There was a lively question and answer session.

The Peel Society presented Philip Bushill-Matthews with a cartoon from Punch of 1846 depicting Peel as the St Patrick.  This was produced at the time when Peel was Prime Minister and trying to reduce the effects of the failure of the potato crop in Ireland due to blight.

End