19/09/2014 BBC London News

But for Scotland, the campaign continues. The dream shall never

die. As Scotland votes no, we look

at what it means for the capital. The Mayor has welcomed

the news that big cities like London This has got to the London

government broadly comprised. Not just the GLA, but us working

together with the boroughs. Scots arriving in the capital tell

us what the decision means for them. I think it is for the best, to be

honest, staying in the Unitdd honest, staying in the Unitdd

Kingdom. London is the centre of the world, not just Britain.

Police find a bike belonging to a convicted murderer wanted

in connection with the disappearance of missing school girl Alice Gross.

Fighting for a medical breakthrough ` the family desperate

And access to the finest collections of Old Master

paintings, as the Great Gallery at the Wallace Collection reopens.

Good evening and welcome to the programme. I'm Victoria Hollins.

So Scotland will remain part of the United Kingdom after its

people voted against independence in yesterday's historic refdrendum.

But the no decision promises to change the course

of history not only north of the border but for the rest of the UK.

The Prime Minister has promised measures to empower big cithes

Today Boris Johnson welcomed the announcement.

But should the capital and its Mayor be given more political powdr?

Tim Donovan looks now at the impact on London.

Scotland was heard at Westmhnster, and the conversation turned to

England, and yes, to London. With its current mayor believing, from

what the prime minister hinted today, that there would soon be more

power for him or his successors. power for him or his successors

Local government is about finding Local government is about finding

formulas for distributing revenue in one way or another. We are confident

we can do it. I think it is an idea that is starting to catch on a

little bit now. Londoners say yes. little bit now. Londoners say yes.

London's own referendum 16 years ago ushered in a mayor and devolved

government with key powers over transport and policing. One of the

architects of that complex legislation says without qudstion it

legislation says without question it is time for more freedoms. The

crucial thing in London is lore crucial thing in London is more

financial controls. This is the great anomaly, that London, which is

very much the economic powerhouse of the UK, has achieved a great deal

but with dependence always on getting consent from governlent

but with dependence always on getting consent from government for

major investment. That cannot be right. So what are the new financial

powers which London could gdt? The talk is of transferring property

taxes, including stamp duty. Around half of the national total currently

being raised in London. London would control all business rate income,

and council tax would be revalued with new, higher bands, and

potentially more freedom to raise it if needed for investment. This would

still mean London raising for itself just 12% of the amount it spends, a

fraction of the freedom, say, of New fraction of the freedom, say, of New

York. But then, finally, thdre could be the vital question of being

allowed to borrow more. London, much bigger economy than Scotland, twice

the population. We have opened this Pandora's box. We need a cohesive

strategy and leadership on the issue. The debate is about devolving

power straight from Westminster down to city regions, metro regions. In

London it is not just about devolving to the mayor. It has to go

lower. It would be the mayor and groups of Boro 's working together

and delivering services. Some suggest what exists now shotld be

improved before more powers are added. Do we have enough power

already and is there a need to look at the internal structure of Greater

London government? Does the assembly have enough powers to hold the mayor

to account. Is it wise to downward transfer more powers before we have

that system sorted out? Going on sale today, a bronze sculpttre

sale today, a bronze sculpture inspired by the independencd

inspired by the independence battle. The artist thought this

morning about closing the gap and fusing the parts together, but it

wasn't so much about the result, he felt, as the debate and energy it

has unleashed. Well, Tim, a no vote from Scotland

but still the possibility of big Well, you would be forgiven for

thinking so today, but the person who can tell us is Tony Travers from

the LSE who headed up the fhnance the LSE who headed up the fhnance

commission which came up with the recommendation about property taxes.

Is it your assumption that those will soon pass to London? I don t

will soon pass to London? I don't think we can assume that. The mood

today is about cities as part of a solution. What does England get out

of this? Scotland and Wales are getting powers and will potdntially

end up with income tax powers, but what are English cities and city

regions cities going to get out of this? You would like to think it

will be a full suite of property taxes, or more, but you can't be

sure. Even if it was, with respect, it seems a very limited offer, not

it seems a very limited offdr, not an offer necessarily that the public

will engage with. Do you thhnk you will engage with. Do you think you

might have been unambitious, given what has gone to Scotland? They

could have been arguments for much more. That is a fair point. We are

in a different world. If thd more. That is a fair point. We are

in a different world. If the finance commission had reported aftdr what

has happened in Scotland it probably would have been more ambitious. You

have to ask how far people hn London would want, for example, income tax

devolved to a London government. devolved to a London government.

They might. The Scots certahnly They might. The Scots certahnly

wanted it, but we can begin to find out if it would be wanted in

London. Does this look like a coherent strategy or is it a mess?

London. Does this look like a coherent strategy or is it ` mess? I

coherent strategy or is it a mess? I think it is nearer to a mess at the

moment. The political class, the major parties at Westminster, have

been bounced into thinking, what can we do about England, Parliament,

we do about England, Parlialent English votes in Parliament, and

about devolving power to London and other cities. But they don't have a

plan and they will have to come up with one very quickly. Thank you.

Back to you. Around 90,000 Scots live and work

in London, with many arriving and leaving the city every day via

King's Cross or Euston stathons Early this morning, Asad Ahlad

started the day by meeting passengers off the Caledonian

sleeper at Euston, before mdeting other Scots in London to find out

what they thought of the no vote. Even the overnight train from

Scotland appeared a little out of breath as it arrived in Houston this

morning. But the service will remain as it is, with no need for a

passport as you board. But `s as it is, with no need for `

passport as you board. But as for passport as you board. But `s for

the Scots disembarking into what will remain the UK's capital city,

was it relief that they felt, or disappointment? Like any election,

disappointment? Like any eldction, it depends who you speak to. You

live in Scotland, have a business in London. Why is it so important

live in Scotland, have a business in London. Why is it so import`nt to

London to remain the centre of the UK? The market is here. That is the

main reason I am here. Therd UK? The market is here. That is the

main reason I am here. There are main reason I am here. There are

lots of great businesses in Scotland and there are customers, but the

biggest market for software is outside Scotland, particularly in

London with its economic potential, and further afield as well. It is

for the best, staying in the and further afield as well. It is

for the best, staying in thd UK for the best, staying in the UK,

especially for my personal circumstances because I want a more

stable job market when I graduate stable job market when I gr`duate

from university. In the long`term, think it would be better for

Scotland to go independent. I went to boarding school in England, so I

used to coming to London. For me, London is the centre of the world,

not just of Britain. Centre of the world? I think so. In Smithfield, a

plaque marks the place where Sir William Wallace, Scotland's greatest

opponent English rule, was dxecuted. opponent English rule, was executed.

It says he fought thoughtlessly for his country's independence. Wanting

a yes to independence in thhs referendum was a Scottish Londoner

who has worked in the Westmhnster Parliament for nearly 30 years.

Parliament for nearly 30 ye`rs. Despite losing the vote, he thinks

it might be time to head back north. It was different. This was people

power, real grass`roots stuff. I started feeling homesick, and I

decided that, whether it be yes or no, I was going home. With around

90,000 Scots in London, manx are 90,000 Scots in London, manx are

unhappy about not having a democratic right to vote whhle

democratic right to vote while living in the capital. People in

London, their job takes them down, London, their job takes them down,

and all of a sudden they ard London, their job takes thel down,

and all of a sudden they ard somehow told they are not Scottish and not

told they are not Scottish `nd not able to vote in what is the biggest

decision that their country will ever take. It almost definitely

would have affected the outcome. would have affected the outcome

Back at Euston, trains continue to Back at Euston, trains continue to

link London and Scotland, and whatever your personal view, what

has happened there is likelx to also has happened there is likely to also

affect you hear in the coming years. Joining me now to discuss the impact

of this decision on the caphtal are David Lammy the MP for Tottenham and

Andrew Boff a Conservative Party Thank you for coming in. David

Lambie, we heard at the end of that report that there will be a massive

knock`on effect in London. What would you like that effect to be?

Look, I think that a London mayor and local authorities cannot be in a

situation where we have an economy situation where we have an economy

that spends 25%, represents 25% of the UK, and only 7% of that is spent

on Londoners. So we need change. On on Londoners. So we need ch`nge On

stamp duty, business rates. But also in relation to schools and health.

We need both an assembly with stronger powers, and assembly

members who can hold a mayor to account, but also local authorities

that can borrow, so we can build the housing and make those critical

housing and make those crithcal decisions. You want to be the mayor.

What are the priorities for you. decisions. You want to be the mayor.

What are the priorities for you Tax What are the priorities for you Tax

hasn't really been discussed. As you say, health, schools... The simple

priority for any Mayor of London is housing. At the moment, loc`l

authorities cannot borrow to build. It is all done from the Treasury.

That has to change and waking up to this vote in Scotland means that

that change is now possible and I think imminent. More powers for the

mayor. Is that the way forw`rd? No, I think more powers for the Greater

London Authority. The mayor has too many powers at the moment and we

have to ensure that the London assembly has the checks and balances

to ensure the mayor is actually to ensure the mayor is actually

doing things in the interest of London. What would those be? One

example is, if you look at New York City Council, they have powdrs to

raise bylaws, control over planning. When we have complaints about the

When we have complaints abott the clustering of things like betting

shops and estate agents on high streets, and I know that is a

complaint in David's constituency, actually the London Assembly should

be able to say, well, actually, we want to be able to give planning

powers for local authorities to address those issues. It can't just

be about money. All three party be about money. All three p`rty

leaders, all three parties have made very bold statements over the past

few days in order to win a no vote from the Scots. We, at the regional

government level and local governor level, will be making sure they

stick to those words. The Treasury is not going to let go of the tax

cash it gets from London, is it? It cash it gets from London, is it? It

has got to. If you look at Tokyo, they raised 70% from tax. New

has got to. If you look at Tokyo, they raised 70% from tax. Ndw York,

50%. Compare that with 7% in London. Something is out of kilter. But

London is the cash cow for the UK. It is in our interests to ensure we

have a powerful London going forward that is able to contribute hn

relationships with the rest of the country, and you can only do that if

you devolve power to the maxor, have you devolve power to the mayor, have

a strong assembly scrutinishng and a strong assembly scrutinising and

beef up local governor and hn the beef up local governor and in the

capital city. You have rightly identified the problem here, which

is that the Treasury are stopping local authorities spending loney.

is that the Treasury are stopping local authorities spending money. It

local authorities spending loney. It is why we have not had houses

local authorities spending money. It is why we have not had housds built

is why we have not had houses built in London for 30 years, and why we

have a housing crisis at the in London for 30 years, and why we

have a housing crisis at thd moment, have a housing crisis at the moment,

because they haven't let go. But we have to look beyond that. We have to

give power to local authorities as well. They also need power, not just

at the Greater London area. Thank you.

Lots more to come, including... Football is coming home again, as

Football is coming home agahn, as Wembley wins the right to host the

European Championship semifinals and final in 2020.

And it is the first time thdse old And it is the first time these old

masters have been seen in d`ylight, in the newly refurbished great

in the newly refurbished grdat gallery at the Wallace collection.

A bike belonging to a convicted murderer wanted

in connection with the disappearance of schoolgirl Alice Gross h`s been

Arnis Zalkalns is believed to have ridden his red mountain bike

along the canal where Alice was last seen three weeks ago.

Forensic officers are still searching a second property

Tarah Welsh is there with the latest.

Police have been searching the home of Arnis Zalkalns for almost a week,

but now attention has turned to this property in Hanwell. We believe it

property in Hanwell. We belheve it is the former home of his partner.

Neighbours tell me that police have been hipper 24 hours, but in the

last two hours they recoverdd been hipper 24 hours, but in the

last two hours they recovered a last two hours they recovered a

black bike from here. That comes as Scotland Yard have confirmed they

found a red Mountain bike they believe he was riding the day that

believe he was riding the d`y that Alice went missing. On the day she

went missing, she crossed this bridge in Brentford. 15 minutes

later, so did Arnis Zalkalns, riding a red Mountain bike. Police believe

that their paths crossed. In 19 8, he was convicted of murdering his

wife and, according to reports from Latvia, burying her body and

woodland. He was arrested btt not woodland. He was arrested but not

charged with indecently ass`ulting a charged with indecently assaulting a

girl. He regularly cycled across the tow path where Alice went missing.

tow path where Alice went mhssing. Arnis Zalkalns has not been seen for

two weeks, when he left home without his mobile phone or passport. Police

say they are working with L`tvian authorities but would not confirm if

there had been any sightings of him or not. They maintain they have no

evidence to suggest that Alice or not. They maintain they have no

evidence to suggest that Alhce has evidence to suggest that Alice has

come to harm, but it has bedn evidence to suggest that Alhce has

come to harm, but it has been three weeks now. Despite a huge mddia

weeks now. Despite a huge media campaign, her parents are no closer

to finding out what has happened to her.

A Surrey family is trying to raise money to find a medical

Both of Nick Taussig's children have been diagnosed with

a devastating muscle wasting disorder with no treatment or cure.

Just a few months ago, Nick and Clara were enjoying an idyllic

family life with their two young family life with their two young

sons, Theo and baby Oscar. But a pre`school manager noticed something

was not quite right with Thdo's was not quite right with Thdo's

development. With a paediatrician diagnosis of a rare disease,

everything changed. Both boys tested everything changed. Both boys tested

positive. You can never prepare for that kind of news. You feel like you

are in a nightmare, really. As the weeks go on, it gets easier, it

becomes the new reality, whhch weeks go on, it gets easier, it

becomes the new reality, whhch is that you have to find a way to help

your children. What made it tough was that the diagnosis ended with a

doctor saying, you now have to test Oscar, because there is a chance he

will also carry the disease. Duchenne is a very rare genetic

Duchenne is a very rare gendtic disorder. The defective gene is

passed through the mother to her sons and it is a progressivd

sons and it is a progressive condition where muscles waste away.

Many sufferers don't make it to adulthood. Nick says he can hear the

clock ticking. You as parents can do things. When you go to the doctor as

a kid, they are like gods, you a kid, they are like gods, xou

assume they know everything. If they say it can't be treated, yot

assume they know everything. If they say it can't be treated, you say,

say it can't be treated, yot say, OK, it can't be treated. But I think

the tide is turning. I fought back pretty quickly. I really wasn't

prepared to accept that nothing could be done. Around 100 boys are

born in the UK every year whth Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Increasingly in medical scidnce Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Increasingly in medical science it Increasingly in medical science it

is parents that find a cure, and Nick is determined to be ond of

Nick is determined to be one of them.

Lets get the sports news now with Sara

Orchard and there was some dxciting news today for football fans.

London has been chosen as the host city

for the semi`finals and final of the European Championship in 20 0.

For the first time the tournament will take pl`ce

throughout the continent with 13 different cities staging gales.

But UEFA decided today that the showpiece matches will take

Not a surprise announcement. London! But for English football, cdrtainly

But for English football, certainly a welcome one. By the time the

tournament gets to Wembley, the semifinals and the finals there,

tournament gets to Wembley, the semifinals and the finals there it

semifinals and the finals there, it is played all over Europe. Ht is

coming to a crescendo. That is when it comes to London. Only two bids

were submitted, Wembley and UNIX. The German FA then withdrew to boost

their chances of hosting Euro 2024. their chances of hosting Euro 2024.

Perhaps a hollow victory, btt their chances of hosting Euro 2 24.

Perhaps a hollow victory, but UEFA insist it is a deserved one. We know

it is a beautiful stadium, hn it is a beautiful stadium, hn

England, in London, to receive it is a beautiful stadium, in

England, in London, to recehve the England, in London, to receive the

semifinal and the final of this big competition. Wembley's 90,000 seats

have already provided the backdrop have already provided the b`ckdrop

to two finals, the Olympics and the Rugby World Cup comes here next

year. It was with hopes of one`day staging a major internation`l

staging a major international tournament that ?750 million was

lavished on construction. 13 years after it opened, that dream become

reality in 2020. Gascoigne! Brilliant! Oh, yes! In 1996, home

advantage inspired England to the semifinals. In 2020, they will need

semifinals. In 2020, they whll need to get that far to experience it.

Definitely try to get tickets, but I don't know if England will be there.

To have it on the home ground will be brilliant. It is something for

the players to put up on their the players to put up on thdir

pedestal, as it were, and hope to reach. It is an achievable target.

It might be 54 years of hurt by them, but in 2020, football is

coming home again. `` by then. The Tottenham Hotspur full`back

Benoit Assou`Ekotto has been banned for three matches

and fined ?50,000 after being found The 30`year`old's punishment is

in relation to the Nicolas Anelka The gesture is associated

with anti`Semitism. Assou`Ekotto used Twitter to

congratulate Anelka on his use of the gesture, which its proponents

claim is merely anti`establishment. And in cricket next week Middlesex

will be playing to stay in the They'll travel to Old Trafford

for the relegation decider Middlesex need to record a win or

a draw to keep them up for the 2015 season ` they can also

afford to lose, providing they earn Good luck to them, as always there

is commentary on the websitd. Well, the battle

for an independent Scotland may be over but for a town in deepest

Surrey it's just beginning. Campaigners in Dorking want to take

back rights to self government which And as Gareth Furby reports the

Scottish result hasn't put them off. The battle for independence may be

over in Scotland, but in Dorking, Surrey, it has just begun. We want

local people to be able to lake local people to be able to make

local decisions and I think having its own town council is abott time.

its own town council is about time. The reason she is standing hn front

The reason she is standing in front of a big Cockrell is becausd that

The reason she is standing hn front of a big Cockrell is because that is

of a big Cockrell is becausd that is about to become the symbol of

Dorking's independence campaign. The Dorking's independence campaign. The

clock has been associated whth Dorking's independence camp`ign The

clock has been associated with the town of Dorking since Roman times.

`` cock. The bird is actually called a Dorking. It may end up on a new

flag. Campaigners want to rdplace flag. Campaigners want to rdplace

the District Council flag. This is a proud moment. It will be when it is

proud moment. It will be whdn it is the true one. What do you mean? When

we have a town council. What might the locals do if it comes to the

vote? A Dorking resident since 981 vote? A Dorking resident since 981

says yes. This was the original Dorking Council, in the past. Do you

want it back? Yes, I would like us to have our own police force.

Antique dealer Bruce is also in favour. It will give Dorking

executive powers to administer its own affairs. But others are yet to

be convinced. I think we have enough bureaucracy as it is. I'm going to

vote no. Are the leading lights of the campaign discouraged by another

failure? Happens to be coincidental, but it is not putting us off. The

union Jack is never coming down, of course, but the cock might fly

higher in Dorking. Now to a grand old house

in Marylebone, ne that contains some of the world's

greatest 17th Century masterpieces ` Its most important room is the

Great Gallery but it's been shut It reopened this morning so

the public can once again sde those Wendy Hurrell has been to t`ke

a look. It's been called the greatest

picture gallery in Europe, and even for the casual art observer,

you'll know some of the works ` Frans Hals' Laughing Cavalier,

Rubens' The Rainbow Landscape. But we've never seen them under this

roof, because now the Great Gallery at the Wallace Collection h`s

a glass ceiling, so it's the first time we've seen these 17th`century

masterpieces in daylight. For that they literally had to

lift the roof and replace it Because artworks are fragild, there

is a lot of technology behind this glass pane, controlling the light,

filtering the light and so on. So, Velasquez

and Van Dyck are back together again, framed by the sumptuous red

silk and gilt panelling. We have works

of an incredible quality. Many of the greatest artists,

we have one of their best works, or several of their best works,

so it is a very choice colldction. The choice of the Wallace family,

over four generations. This room was an extension to Sir

Richard Wallace's home, Hertford House, finished in 1875, a place to

impress his guests, and eventually We can't acquire, we can't sell,

and we can't lend. We are operating under somewhat

different conditions from most This Great Gallery

revamp cost ?5 million. The pictures though, priceldss ` in

a building once at home and forever Beautiful. Let's get a check on the

weather now. It has also been beautiful `t

weather now. It has also been beautiful at times,

It has also been beautiful `t times, but there have also been nasty

storms. You might have been woken up by thunder and lightning last night.

Horrendous storms in Southern counties caused some local issues.

Then the sun came out across the eastern counties, then the

temperature rose and we saw some more storms erupted over eastern

parts of London through this afternoon. Again, you could have had

some problems from flooding. We have a bit of a respite again, but

some problems from flooding. We have a bit of a respite again, btt I

a bit of a respite again, but I would not rule out the odd

thunderstorm later in the night once thunderstorm later in the nhght once

more. Very hit and miss, and many of us will avoid these. Another one of

these muggy nights as humidity us will avoid these. Another one of

these muggy nights as humidhty is staying well up. Temperature is no

lower than 15 degrees in thd middle lower than 15 degrees in thd middle

of town. Misty, a bit of brightness of town. Misty, a bit of brhghtness

developing but a good deal of cloud. A few showers will ddvelop,

cloud. A few showers will develop, hopefully not the really potent ones

that some of us have seen. The risk of a few showers around. In any

brightness it will feel pretty warmer. Temperature is open to the

low 20s, again, above par for the time of year. The last really humid

day, in fact. We are going to see a different sort of day as we go into

Sunday. High pressure from the North will introduce pressure conditions.

In fact, Sunday is looking like a lovely day. It might start off a

little bit cloudy, but the sun will come through and it will be a

fresher feel, like the wind. Temperature is not as high as they

Temperature is not as high `s they have been. But it will feel

comfortable with highs of around 18 or 19 degrees. Some might squeak

20. Getting better, the weekend Sunshine to be had, continuing into

Monday and some chilly nights to come.

Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, has announced

his resignation just hours after Scotland voted no to independence.

A record number of Scots turned out to vote with 55% of them

David Cameron has also confhrmed that the Scottish Parliament will be

given new powers over tax, spending and Welfare.

People in England, Northern Ireland and Wales will also

be given a greater say over their national affairs.

Meanwhile London's Mayor, Boris Johnson, has welcomed today's

result in Scotland as a fantastic day for British democracy.

I'll be back later during the ten o'clock news, but for

now from everyone on the team have a lovely evening and a great weekend.