The week
A round-up of the week's news and events

Cornering the chameleon
His political opponents want to pin David Cameron down on key policy points, says Sam Macrory
Sam Macrory

Commons Gallery
Daniel Forman reports on the week's key developments in the Commons

Life in a backbench bathchair
Austin Mitchell returns to the Westminster front after painful spinal surgery
Austin Mitchell

Lords Gallery
Andrew Evans rounds up the week's developments in the House of Lords

Taking the strain
Lord Maginnis sees his role as making up for the dearth of Ulster Unionist MPs
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass

Defining decisions delayed
At the conclusion of the UK's EU presidency, Tony Blair defied the critics by brokering an agreement on the Union's budget. But is the deal holding? George Parker investigates
George Parker

The bon viveurs' badinage
They've sat on opposite sides of a boardroom table and disagree about politics, but John Thurso and Rocco Forte are united in their love for quality hotels
John Thurso

Speed the progressive plough
Farming in the UK can thrive in a changing world, argues Lord Bach
Lord Bach

Going cold turkey on CAP
Weaning farmers off subsidies was the whole idea of CAP reform, yet the government has botched it and put UK businesses at risk, argues Jim Paice
Jim Paice

Countryside conspiracy?
The government and the supermarkets seem to be united in their determination to impoverish Britain's farmers, argues Chris Huhne.
Chris Huhne

Stand by your pitchforks
Michael Jack hopes Defra will make a better job of managing bird flu than it did of single farm payments
Michael Jack

The unstoppable superstores
The buying power of the 'big four' supermarkets render the independent producers, farmers and convenience stores powerless, says Nigel Evans
Nigel Evans

Butchers over a barrell
A code of fair practice exists, but simply isn't used, writes Roger Williams
Roger Williams

Supermarket sweep
Nobody wants to see rural shops shut down, says Lord Graham of Edmonton - but nor do they want to pay more than they have to for goods and services
Lord Graham of Edmonton

Farming in fetlocks
British agriculture has changed fundamentally in a generation, says Richard Benyon, with farmers and the landscape feeling the effects
Richard Benyon

A green and pleasant grillpan
Peter Atkinson assesses the prospects for British beef producers as they prepare for the export ban to be lifted
Peter Atkinson

Remembering a musical mind
Charles Kennedy previews a summer musical celebration of the life of Sir Edward Heath
Charles Kennedy

A sough in the cedars
Julian Brazier reports from Beirut where he joined a protest against the arrest of a human rights lawyer
Julian Brazier

Cobbett's Corner
Chris Moncrieff takes a wry look at politics
Chris Moncrieff

Dialogue
Subject: Religion in politics
Evan Harris and David Drew

Electionwatch
A round-up of recent and forthcoming elections

Backtracks...
...this week in history