08/07/2016

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:00:36. > :00:42.The next Conservative leader will either be

:00:43. > :00:45.Theresa May or Andrea Leadsom, and one of them will be in 10

:00:46. > :00:53.Downing Street by early September at the latest.

:00:54. > :00:59.As the contest moves from Westminster to the party's

:01:00. > :01:02.members, will May's experience win out, or can Leave campaigner Leadsom

:01:03. > :01:09.Speaking of coups, Labour's seems to be on hold at the moment.

:01:10. > :01:12.But, with 100,000 new members joining since the Brexit vote,

:01:13. > :01:17.the party's internal battle is far from over.

:01:18. > :01:20.Remain voters still feeling a bit tearful can take comfort

:01:21. > :01:23.from a new paper being launched this morning, just for them,

:01:24. > :01:31.What will MEPs miss about their monthly jaunts

:01:32. > :01:39.to the European Parliament in Strasbourg?

:01:40. > :01:45.And with us for the first half of the programme today,

:01:46. > :02:00.She only left me if you moments ago on BBC One!

:02:01. > :02:01.I have been sleeping under the table!

:02:02. > :02:04.She writes for the FT and this week she's been writing

:02:05. > :02:06.about whether it's OK to embellish your CV.

:02:07. > :02:10.So, when she tells you she used to be Lib Dem leader and she's

:02:11. > :02:12.about to take over as presenter of Top Gear, you'll

:02:13. > :02:18.First today, there's one big story across the front pages this

:02:19. > :02:21.morning and that's the news that the next Conservative leader

:02:22. > :02:23.and Prime Minister will be either Home Secretary Theresa May

:02:24. > :02:27.or the Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom.

:02:28. > :02:31.Much has been made of the fact that Britain is to have a female

:02:32. > :02:33.PM for the first time since Margaret Thatcher left

:02:34. > :02:44.Only the second in our long Parliamentary history.

:02:45. > :02:47.And the comparisons with Maggie are flowing thick and fast, either

:02:48. > :02:49.favourably or unfavourably depending on your political persuasion.

:02:50. > :02:52.Let's have a listen to both women speaking after they were chosen

:02:53. > :02:57.as the final two candidates in a ballot of Conservative MPs.

:02:58. > :03:03.We need proven leadership to negotiate the best deal

:03:04. > :03:08.for leaving the European Union, to unite our party and our country,

:03:09. > :03:11.and to make Britain a country that works not for the privileged few

:03:12. > :03:15.Obviously very exciting, and the great news is

:03:16. > :03:18.we have an all-female short list with no positive

:03:19. > :03:19.discrimination or anything, isn't that fantastic?

:03:20. > :03:34.So, we have a female Scottish First Minister, a female leader of the

:03:35. > :03:38.Scottish Tories, if female leader of Scottish Labour, a German female

:03:39. > :03:45.Chancellor, about to have a second British Prime Minister, and may be

:03:46. > :03:50.an American female president. In the 21st century, we are moving

:03:51. > :03:56.to a situation where the fact that someone is female is moving down the

:03:57. > :04:01.agenda? It is either that, or time to

:04:02. > :04:04.celebrate a new dawn of a female age and female leadership being

:04:05. > :04:10.recognised as having the same potential as male. When you look at

:04:11. > :04:13.Scottish politics, it has been really significant all but one of

:04:14. > :04:19.the party leaders in Scotland has been female for a while. Someone

:04:20. > :04:24.like Ruth Davidson is an absolute star, as is Nicola Sturgeon.

:04:25. > :04:29.It is cause to celebrate. The problem that can happen on the left

:04:30. > :04:39.is that when you get women like Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom

:04:40. > :04:41.rising to the very top, because they do not fit their idea of a

:04:42. > :04:43.conventional feminist, they are dismissed as not quite right.

:04:44. > :04:45.You can have a problem where the woman to hand is not quite woman

:04:46. > :04:50.enough, which is hopeless. It should be celebrated. When Barack

:04:51. > :04:56.Obama was about to win, some of the black activists said he is not

:04:57. > :05:01.enough! You have to be careful. Why is it that the Conservatives

:05:02. > :05:04.have produced a female short list but they are against female short

:05:05. > :05:10.lists. And the Labour Party which is in favour and the Lib Dems, neither

:05:11. > :05:14.have been anywhere near having a female leader.

:05:15. > :05:19.It is true, a year ago, the Labour Party had really good women on the

:05:20. > :05:26.list potentially for the leadership, deputy leadership and candidate for

:05:27. > :05:32.London mayor. And then it turned out to be all-male when the vote came

:05:33. > :05:36.in. The left has a problem. People get slightly twisted with the

:05:37. > :05:41.identity politics, to do with categorising people all the time

:05:42. > :05:43.when the right is relaxed about individualism.

:05:44. > :05:49.Having said that, there aren't enough women in politics generally

:05:50. > :05:55.and things must be changed structurally to allow women in, this

:05:56. > :06:00.is still important. In 1975, it was a huge issue that

:06:01. > :06:05.Margaret Thatcher would become leader of the Conservative Party. It

:06:06. > :06:09.is not a huge issue now that either to May or Andrea Leadsom will be

:06:10. > :06:19.leader, that is a change in attitude.

:06:20. > :06:22.So, now we know the final two in the race to be the next leader

:06:23. > :06:24.of the Conservative Party and, consequently, the next

:06:25. > :06:58.She brings her experience as one of the longest home secretaries to the

:06:59. > :07:02.job. While she insists Brexit is Brexit, she was on the remain

:07:03. > :07:11.campsite in the referendum which could count against her. Andrea

:07:12. > :07:16.Leadsom is the new face. As Energy Minister, she has not sat in the

:07:17. > :07:22.Cabinet, and has been an MP since only 2010. A prominent role in the

:07:23. > :07:31.Leave campaign puts on the same side as many conservative members. Her

:07:32. > :07:37.supporters claim she is a fresh face. Andrea Leadsom was also

:07:38. > :07:43.Grammar School educated. She has a degree in political science from

:07:44. > :07:47.Warwick University. She had a career in finance, experience which makes

:07:48. > :07:50.up for her lack of time in Government, according to her

:07:51. > :07:58.supporters. Yesterday, she was forced to defend just how good those

:07:59. > :08:05.credentials. Now it is down to local party members. Ben Gatsby is chair

:08:06. > :08:10.of the Thurrock Conservative Association. And Michael are still

:08:11. > :08:12.joins us from Plymouth as chair of the South West Devon Conservative

:08:13. > :08:23.Association. Why is Theresa May your candidate?

:08:24. > :08:29.It comes down to experience. As a country, this will be an interesting

:08:30. > :08:32.couple of years. It is no time for a novice. Theresa May has been Home

:08:33. > :08:39.Secretary, received briefings which would keep me up at night, she knows

:08:40. > :08:43.what she is doing. Andrea is not tested.

:08:44. > :08:50.Michael, no time for a novice? First of all, I am very delighted we

:08:51. > :08:58.have two ladies in the contest. I have been reading about her and

:08:59. > :09:06.she is passionate about the job. She has some experience and what she

:09:07. > :09:16.sees in her role could be very good said getting part of the EU. I don't

:09:17. > :09:21.think we should -- I think we should wait for the months ahead and let

:09:22. > :09:28.the membership decide in good time. Andrea Leadsom.

:09:29. > :09:33.She is new, even to her supporters, clearly. Is it important the next

:09:34. > :09:40.Prime Minister was a Leave campaigner?

:09:41. > :09:49.Yes, it is for me. Because I was vote lead, I work very hard as did

:09:50. > :09:54.others. And the result was the clear result that we should now get ahead

:09:55. > :10:02.and put that into motion. What do you say to that?

:10:03. > :10:07.Because it looks like most Conservative Party members voted to

:10:08. > :10:10.leave. And, for them, Mrs Mabel is on the wrong side of the argument,

:10:11. > :10:15.why pick someone like that as your next leader?

:10:16. > :10:19.As Michael said, the result is the result. Teresa has been cleared

:10:20. > :10:24.Brexit means Brexit. There wasn't any reason to be worried about that.

:10:25. > :10:27.There is a country still to be governed.

:10:28. > :10:34.We still have schools, hospitals, transport, all the other things that

:10:35. > :10:37.take up an entire cabinet minister's time.

:10:38. > :10:42.Will people who voted to leave not fear she is half-hearted and may not

:10:43. > :10:46.try to drive a hard enough bargain and may settle for a Norwegian or a

:10:47. > :10:50.Swiss halfway house? One of the problems with the Leave

:10:51. > :10:54.campaign is no one set out what Brexit should look like.

:10:55. > :10:58.Teresa will have to think hard. She will need to set out what she

:10:59. > :11:01.thinks that should look like in the coming months.

:11:02. > :11:06.When she says Brexit means Brexit, that is clear.

:11:07. > :11:15.But there are very many varieties of Brexit.

:11:16. > :11:24.Michael, there is a country to govern. And we don't know much about

:11:25. > :11:29.Andrea Leadsom's position on the non-EU issues. Don't we need to find

:11:30. > :11:32.out and maybe doesn't she need to seek a mandate from the country if

:11:33. > :11:42.she wins? No, I wouldn't think we need a

:11:43. > :11:49.general election. We had a general election, this Conservatives had a

:11:50. > :11:58.good majority. I think we need to go ahead and Andrea will put her ideas

:11:59. > :12:04.forward in the ensuing months. And I think she hasn't got the experience

:12:05. > :12:11.of her counterpart but I think she will come out and give clear

:12:12. > :12:17.information on how she is going to deal with as leaving the EU and

:12:18. > :12:21.getting a good deal. What are her chances? She is coming

:12:22. > :12:30.from behind, not the favourite, what are her chances. I think she has a

:12:31. > :12:34.very good chance of winning. And the support of me and many of my

:12:35. > :12:37.friends, some not actually in the Conservative Party.

:12:38. > :12:44.But they won't have the vote. No, but it is nice to hear that

:12:45. > :12:50.other people, some Ukip friends that I have who are in touch with me to

:12:51. > :13:06.say that they, that she would be their choice.

:13:07. > :13:07.Thanks you very much for joining us. James cleverly, what

:13:08. > :13:16.reassurances does Theresa May have to give that she will not be looking

:13:17. > :13:21.for a Brexit - light solution. I think she has given all the

:13:22. > :13:27.reassurances that I need. I campaign very hard for Brexit, so did Chris

:13:28. > :13:32.Grayling, Priti Patel and Liam Fox. All of us take her experience as her

:13:33. > :13:36.bond. When she says she will campaign for a proper Brexit that

:13:37. > :13:40.works for Britain, that is what she will deliver.

:13:41. > :13:43.Not a Norwegian halfway house? She has not mention that, no one in her

:13:44. > :13:49.team has mentioned that. There will be a British model.

:13:50. > :13:53.Because, before the Norwegians negotiated their position, there was

:13:54. > :13:57.no model on the shelf to be deployed.

:13:58. > :14:00.We will make a Brexit that works for Britain, I am confident Theresa May

:14:01. > :14:04.will deliver that. Given her failed record on

:14:05. > :14:09.immigration, she cannot be seen to give anything on the free movement.

:14:10. > :14:14.One of the reasons I campaigned so hard for Brexit is I was very

:14:15. > :14:18.conscious Theresa May and James Brokenshire I were doing sterling

:14:19. > :14:22.work but were limited in their ability to deliver because of the

:14:23. > :14:27.constraints put on us by our membership of the EU.

:14:28. > :14:32.They set a target of 100,000 net migration. Even if no one had come

:14:33. > :14:38.from the EU, they wouldn't have hit that target, net moderation from

:14:39. > :14:41.non-EU was 180 8000. The bits of immigration they did control they

:14:42. > :14:45.could not even get that down to the target.

:14:46. > :14:50.The thing I identified with regard to our membership of the EU, it

:14:51. > :14:55.doesn't matter how fair your immigration policy is, you can't

:14:56. > :14:58.deploy a policy whilst being members of the EU.

:14:59. > :15:06.Why? We have total control for outside the EU. If Theresa May could

:15:07. > :15:10.not control that, why, when we have no EU controls on that, why would we

:15:11. > :15:17.trust has good control immigration when we are outside the EU?

:15:18. > :15:23.I completely trust her to control immigration. There still hospitals

:15:24. > :15:28.to be run, transport to be run, policing to be run. It is important

:15:29. > :15:32.we discuss Brexit but it is also important we recognise we need a

:15:33. > :15:36.leader who can deal with all the other elements of government that

:15:37. > :15:41.still need to be delivered. What is her policy on Heathrow and Gatwick

:15:42. > :15:48.runway is? I don't have the inside track of all the policies. We don't

:15:49. > :15:52.know? Andrea and to Reza will be touring the country setting out

:15:53. > :15:59.their agenda for government. -- Theresa May. I won't try and... You

:16:00. > :16:05.said there is a country to govern. We don't know. It may also be true

:16:06. > :16:09.of Andrea Leadsom, we don't know what Theresa May stands for outside

:16:10. > :16:19.the six years she has been in the Home Office? When she came to the

:16:20. > :16:22.1922... She made an explicit statement on HS2. I don't want to be

:16:23. > :16:26.drawn on all her policy announcements because she will want

:16:27. > :16:29.to announce those as part of her campaign to become the next Prime

:16:30. > :16:35.Minister in the next few months. Has it not been to her detriment that

:16:36. > :16:40.she is prepared to make EU nationals already living in this country a

:16:41. > :16:45.bargaining chip? When I was in business I did a lot of negotiating.

:16:46. > :16:50.One of the first rules of negotiating, you don't give away

:16:51. > :16:55.negotiating points. I know that, how would you, why would you make people

:16:56. > :16:59.living in this country EU nationals, who's been here, law-abiding

:17:00. > :17:03.citizens, working away, why would you make them bargaining chips? She

:17:04. > :17:08.was asked a question and she answered it. We don't have any

:17:09. > :17:12.assurances from the EU that UK nationals... Why will that matter?

:17:13. > :17:19.In a negotiation you need to keep as many options open as possible. Every

:17:20. > :17:22.EU national watching this programme today should be uncertain about

:17:23. > :17:28.their future, because you want to make them part of the negotiation

:17:29. > :17:33.process? No, you brought it up, I didn't bring it up. Excuse me,

:17:34. > :17:37.Theresa May brought up. She didn't, she was asked a direct question and

:17:38. > :17:41.she said as a general point of principle she wasn't going to start

:17:42. > :17:45.renegotiating with the media before she even steps into the room with

:17:46. > :17:51.the European Parliament. She said the position of the EU nationals

:17:52. > :17:55.would be part of the negotiations. The point I made in a previous

:17:56. > :18:01.programme, even the most radical of leaders said EU nationals should not

:18:02. > :18:06.worry, that their position will be protected when we leave the EU. Why

:18:07. > :18:10.can Theresa May not say that? Because she has said as a general

:18:11. > :18:14.principle she is not going to stop renegotiating with the media before

:18:15. > :18:19.she is even in the job. You could go through one issue after another... I

:18:20. > :18:23.am sticking with this issue. Many people think the position of EU

:18:24. > :18:27.nationals should be placed above the negotiations, should not be part of

:18:28. > :18:33.the negotiations. If you want to stay here, you are entitled to do

:18:34. > :18:39.so. Even Nigel Farage says that is the case. No one that I campaigned

:18:40. > :18:44.with on the Leave campaign or spoke to on the Remain campaign wants to

:18:45. > :18:49.see EU nationals excluded from the UK. But Theresa made a clear point

:18:50. > :18:53.of principle, she's not going to pre-negotiate point by point in the

:18:54. > :18:56.lead up to hopefully her becoming the next Prime Minister. You could

:18:57. > :19:00.pick one issue after another and keep asking her and you will get the

:19:01. > :19:04.same answer, that she is not going to take anything off the table. The

:19:05. > :19:08.3 million EU nationals this is an important issue and you are putting

:19:09. > :19:12.their future on the table. These are your words.

:19:13. > :19:16.Would you bet on the outside on this does Theresa May have it? The

:19:17. > :19:21.Conservative Party's great genius has always been to see itself as the

:19:22. > :19:25.natural party of government and guard that against ideological

:19:26. > :19:29.forays. I think the problem for the party is if you listen to the

:19:30. > :19:33.gentleman from the south-west, with saying it was an encouraging sign

:19:34. > :19:38.Andrea Leadsom appealed to his Ukip friends, I wouldn't see that as an

:19:39. > :19:43.encouraging sign, I would be worried about a reverse takeover of the

:19:44. > :19:46.Conservative Party by Ukip and disenfranchising those centre-right

:19:47. > :19:51.people for who were fans of David Cameron and won him the general

:19:52. > :19:55.election. I think it is a dangerous maim and for the Tories, because if

:19:56. > :20:00.they do Jeremy Corbyn on the Tories, they will be captured by their

:20:01. > :20:05.extreme wings. Is that your biggest risk? The Conservative Party is not

:20:06. > :20:08.the Labour Party. We have a very pragmatic set of associate members.

:20:09. > :20:14.I hear what you are saying but Andrea Leadsom is not Jeremy Corbyn.

:20:15. > :20:19.Our members are not Momentum. We are as sensible, pragmatic and middle

:20:20. > :20:23.ground party and that is where we will remain. We will leave it there,

:20:24. > :20:27.thank you. Conservative Party members will choose a new leader but

:20:28. > :20:30.will Labour Party members get to do the same before long?

:20:31. > :20:32.Well, there's still a stalemate between leader Jeremy Corbyn

:20:33. > :20:35.and his many critics among MPs, and we don't know yet

:20:36. > :20:40.whether there will be a leadership challenge.

:20:41. > :20:42.But, if there is, then it appears that many people are joining

:20:43. > :20:45.the party in an effort to influence the result.

:20:46. > :20:48.Let's just take a look at the figures.

:20:49. > :20:51.The party's highest membership figure in recent decades was 405,000

:20:52. > :20:57.in 1997 when Tony Blair became Prime Minister.

:20:58. > :21:03.Since then, it's been falling, and under Ed Miliband in 2014

:21:04. > :21:12.But the membership practically doubled to more than 370,000

:21:13. > :21:15.after last summer's leadership election, in part because of a rule

:21:16. > :21:20.change meant people could sign up for ?3.

:21:21. > :21:22.This morning, Jeremy Corbyn writes in the Guardian that,

:21:23. > :21:25.since the EU referendum, more than 100,000 have joined,

:21:26. > :21:34.taking the total number to just over 500,000.

:21:35. > :21:37.Well, let's talk now to Tom Baldwin, who was an adviser to Ed Miliband

:21:38. > :21:40.and Adam Klug who is a national organiser for Momentum.

:21:41. > :21:49.Which has been part of Jeremy Corbyn's John McDonnell appeal to

:21:50. > :21:53.the grassroots. Is there going to be a challenge? I think there will be,

:21:54. > :21:56.at the beginning of next week. Their will. Is it assumed on that

:21:57. > :22:02.challenge you would assume among Labour MPs that Jeremy Corbyn loses

:22:03. > :22:06.that challenge? That he won't get a majority, and it will go to the

:22:07. > :22:10.country? I think it would be much better if Jeremy Corbyn did the

:22:11. > :22:13.decent thing and left now with some dignity intact. If it comes to a

:22:14. > :22:19.challenge, they will have to do this. In those circumstances, what

:22:20. > :22:22.matters now is the mainstream start signing people up with the same

:22:23. > :22:29.skill and success as Momentum have been doing. A bit late? I don't

:22:30. > :22:34.think so, the figures Jeremy Corbyn was talking about, 100,000 new

:22:35. > :22:38.members, it has been 113,000. There has been some sampling done. It is a

:22:39. > :22:44.narrow majority for Jeremy Corbyn, not overwhelming and not as big as

:22:45. > :22:47.momentum believes or would like. Do you buy that? All the early

:22:48. > :22:54.indications were those who are signing up to joint were not 100%

:22:55. > :23:00.Jeremy Corbyn fans but tended to the left of the Labour Party? That is my

:23:01. > :23:05.understanding. From the first 13,000 people who joined, 60% put on their

:23:06. > :23:11.membership forms as they joined that they were joining to support Jeremy

:23:12. > :23:15.Corbyn. That was only those who wrote in that box but you didn't

:23:16. > :23:23.have to write in that box. Those who did tended towards Jeremy Corbyn?

:23:24. > :23:25.60% wrote in that box. That is because Momentum have been

:23:26. > :23:30.mobilising. The mainstream currently have been fighting this is a

:23:31. > :23:33.parliamentary battle. I think it is imperative that mainstream Labour

:23:34. > :23:38.Party now go out and show the mainstream are many and the far left

:23:39. > :23:45.off you. That is getting people to sign up hundreds of mainstream

:23:46. > :23:51.people who want a firm opposition. What is your equipment question what

:23:52. > :23:55.saving Labour. There are many millions of people who after this

:23:56. > :23:59.referendum want an effective opposition, want to do something to

:24:00. > :24:05.save our country and save our democracy. I think that energy, that

:24:06. > :24:09.opportunity now needs to be harnessed, not just to save the

:24:10. > :24:13.Labour Party but to save our democracy. Do you think it will be

:24:14. > :24:17.harder this time? Or do you think you still have a substantial

:24:18. > :24:23.majority for Mr Corbyn among the rank and file? I agree that this is

:24:24. > :24:28.a huge opportunity, with 500,000 members the Labour Party is now the

:24:29. > :24:31.biggest membership left of centre party in Europe. I think it is a

:24:32. > :24:36.tremendous opportunity to move forward and engage with voters and

:24:37. > :24:40.engage with members. Members of the people who, on a daily basis, are

:24:41. > :24:44.interacting with voters. It is an opportunity to be knocking on

:24:45. > :24:47.people's doors, canvassing and listening to people. What I said

:24:48. > :24:52.was, do you think among the membership it will be harder or

:24:53. > :24:57.easier to re-elect Mr Corbyn? If there is a challenge I am confident

:24:58. > :25:00.Jeremy will be re-elected. And if he is, where does that leave the

:25:01. > :25:06.Parliamentary Labour Party? In a very difficult position. And our

:25:07. > :25:10.party and our democracy. Jeremy Corbyn cannot be leader of the

:25:11. > :25:15.Labour Party. For out of five have expressed no confidence in him.

:25:16. > :25:23.Every MEP, ex-leader, an increasing number of members. This is

:25:24. > :25:29.unsustainable. Not if he wins? If he wins among the grassroots he has

:25:30. > :25:33.won. Isn't it the truth that this situation... That the grassroots of

:25:34. > :25:36.the Labour Party needs a new parliamentary party, and the

:25:37. > :25:41.Parliamentary party needs a new grassroots? Maybe you will end up

:25:42. > :25:45.going your separate ways? I think there is too much defeatism among

:25:46. > :25:49.Labour MPs who think you can't beat momentum on the ground. I believe

:25:50. > :25:53.there is energy out there. I believe there is an opportunity and if a

:25:54. > :25:56.large number of people who have joined the Labour Party specifically

:25:57. > :26:00.to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn in the last few weeks, that is even before

:26:01. > :26:05.the mainstream is mobilised. We have to get on with mobilising. The

:26:06. > :26:09.contrast with the Conservative Party, 150,000 very weird people

:26:10. > :26:13.about to choose the new Prime Minister, we need to oppose that and

:26:14. > :26:19.effectively. Do you think the Tory party have a monopoly on with

:26:20. > :26:23.members? No. Let's park that there. Do you detect this claim of a

:26:24. > :26:28.moderate uprising among Labour Party members? I don't. I think the whole

:26:29. > :26:32.terms of this discussion are disappointing. The Tories could call

:26:33. > :26:37.a general election at any time. A turbulent political period and all

:26:38. > :26:41.these members of the Labour Party, 130 momentum groups around the UK

:26:42. > :26:45.who are doing positive community engaging and this is presented as a

:26:46. > :26:52.war, a battle as how to beat or defeat Momentum. I think to be that

:26:53. > :26:57.that is how Momentum presented. I think it is great people are joining

:26:58. > :27:01.the Labour Party and it outnumbers this ageing and odd Conservative

:27:02. > :27:03.Party. What is also important is the Labour Party becomes more

:27:04. > :27:07.representative of the country, getting mainstream Labour voters

:27:08. > :27:14.into the party, as well as people from Momentum. If Mr Corbyn is

:27:15. > :27:18.re-elected, if we go down this process, nobody has triggered it

:27:19. > :27:23.yet, but if he is and is re-elected and remains leader and leader of the

:27:24. > :27:26.Parliamentary party, 80% of which have no confidence in him... You

:27:27. > :27:30.need a new Parliamentary Labour Party? It is a very unfortunate

:27:31. > :27:36.situation we find ourselves in. I put the of that down to MPs who

:27:37. > :27:41.decided to take this action. I wonder where you go from there?

:27:42. > :27:45.There are many great MPs and MPs who will be having conversations with

:27:46. > :27:49.their members and could be won background. We need to build a

:27:50. > :27:52.bridge somehow, because it is a really difficult situation we find

:27:53. > :27:56.ourselves in. To have contempt for members and their views on to ignore

:27:57. > :27:59.them and think they should only be looking at the Parliamentary Labour

:28:00. > :28:06.Party is undemocratic move, I would say. What he is a customer when I

:28:07. > :28:10.first worked in politics a long time ago there was this sort of dream of

:28:11. > :28:17.cooperation on the centre-left another centre-left is now a kind of

:28:18. > :28:20.sinkhole, effectively. There is nobody there and nobody there to

:28:21. > :28:25.represent mainstream centre-left views. I understand what you're

:28:26. > :28:29.saying that even if you have 500,000 people in a group hug, it's still a

:28:30. > :28:33.group hug and not appealing to as a whole. The Labour Party was setup to

:28:34. > :28:37.improve the lives of working people. I'm afraid sort of being preoccupied

:28:38. > :28:40.with the with the issues left are preoccupied with does not

:28:41. > :28:44.communicate with the electorate as a whole. I think you are right, and

:28:45. > :28:49.through. I think the current system of parties we have inherited is

:28:50. > :28:53.becoming the unsustainable. The Labour Party contains two different

:28:54. > :28:57.parties now. The question is, will it be recaptured by the moderate

:28:58. > :29:03.mainstream and will the left have to go some rows and create their own

:29:04. > :29:07.Momentum party? Or will the moderates in the Labour Party have

:29:08. > :29:10.to hide themselves off and create a new centre-left body? Questions we

:29:11. > :29:14.must leave hanging in the air. Who would you like the challenger to be?

:29:15. > :29:17.Angela Eagle at the moment because she has had the balls to put herself

:29:18. > :29:21.up there. Not necessarily the ideal candidate and not my perfect choice

:29:22. > :29:24.but she has been brave enough to say she will take on Jeremy Corbyn and I

:29:25. > :29:27.think we should back her. No question Mr Corbyn would just stand

:29:28. > :29:30.down in your view question what I don't believe that would happen. I

:29:31. > :29:35.think that would be very disappointing if that were to

:29:36. > :29:39.happen. You have both had your say and we will leave it there. It will

:29:40. > :29:43.keep us busy which is what we need, during the summer. Not!

:29:44. > :29:45.A new weekly newspaper hits the newsagents today.

:29:46. > :29:47.Or should I say, it hits some newsagents in some

:29:48. > :29:51.Specifically in those areas that voted to stay in the EU

:29:52. > :29:53.in the referendum such as London, Liverpool and Manchester.

:29:54. > :29:57.The New European is aimed at the 48% who voted unsuccessfully to stay

:29:58. > :29:59.in the European Union, in what its publishers said

:30:00. > :30:05.was an effort to cater for people feeling a real sense of loss.

:30:06. > :30:08.Well, we here at the Daily Politics always wish all new papers well.

:30:09. > :30:11.But let's have a look at some other titles that have fared

:30:12. > :30:21.Sales of the new newspaper got off to a good start.

:30:22. > :30:24.This shop sold out in less than quarter of an hour.

:30:25. > :30:29.The paper is good to look at, with plenty of colour pictures.

:30:30. > :30:32.The first edition of The European, coming off the presses

:30:33. > :30:37.at the Mirror Group's printing works at Watford.

:30:38. > :30:39.Hello Sir, Sunday Business is launched this Sunday,

:30:40. > :30:44.it's a new newspaper and you can also win a free bottle of champagne.

:30:45. > :30:48.I've got my star writer in New York, and he should be here with a copy.

:30:49. > :30:55.An hour and a half to go and the newspapers are late.

:30:56. > :30:57.Editor in chief Andrew Neil makes a rare appearance

:30:58. > :31:03.Let's move on this, we're running out time now.

:31:04. > :31:06.The Lite version has been printed here for the last five years,

:31:07. > :31:10.but managers say it is no longer financially viable.

:31:11. > :31:13.After 168 years, the News of the World is to close.

:31:14. > :31:25.This Sunday's edition will be its last.

:31:26. > :31:35.It was the first broadsheet to go tabloid and now it's the first

:31:36. > :31:42.Hold the front page, it's a new national newspaper

:31:43. > :31:45.in the age of the Internet, published by the Mirror Group,

:31:46. > :31:52.but its own agenda, journalists on a new approach.

:31:53. > :31:57.Joining us now, and probably wishing he hadn't seen that film,

:31:58. > :32:05.is the editor of pop-up newspaper The New European, Matt Kelly.

:32:06. > :32:16.Here is The New European newspaper, a pop art hurt her for the 48%.

:32:17. > :32:24.-- Pop up paper. A new paper for a new constituency,

:32:25. > :32:29.very rare you are handed in market opportunity of 16.5 million people

:32:30. > :32:33.on a plate. It is, if you look at those models

:32:34. > :32:39.you have just shown, they had multi-million pound budgets, ours is

:32:40. > :32:46.in the low five figures. We are doing a conservative cost

:32:47. > :32:51.base, with massive positivity from journalists. We have captured some

:32:52. > :32:57.sense in the country there is a lack of representation the people feeling

:32:58. > :33:04.disenfranchised by what happened. It is weekly? You are committed to

:33:05. > :33:08.four editions. Is there a digital version?

:33:09. > :33:16.A digital page turner. We have a social media presence. And a website

:33:17. > :33:21.for people who want to subscribe. What will you tell me that I can't

:33:22. > :33:28.get from the Financial Times or the Economist? They have a sense of

:33:29. > :33:34.bereavement at the moment. Both those don't touch a mass

:33:35. > :33:44.market. We are aiming for a popular style.

:33:45. > :33:50.What sales will you be happy with? We are printing 200,000 copies

:33:51. > :33:58.today. On sale all week. If we sold 50,000 I would be delighted.

:33:59. > :34:05.?2, Miranda, are you up for that? This will test the ram named

:34:06. > :34:12.campaign commitment. -- Remain.

:34:13. > :34:16.There is a sense of cultural abandonment of what this might mean

:34:17. > :34:21.particularly in London and the big cities, maybe there is a market.

:34:22. > :34:24.I am in favour of any newspaper! The best of luck.

:34:25. > :34:28.Coming up in a moment, it's our regular look at what's been

:34:29. > :34:33.For now, it's time to say goodbye to my guest of the day.

:34:34. > :34:37.So, for the next half-an-hour, we're going to be focussing on Europe.

:34:38. > :34:39.We'll be discussing the status of EU nationals here after Brexit,

:34:40. > :34:42.and what the rest of the EU will do without Britain.

:34:43. > :34:44.First, though, here's our guide to the latest from Europe,

:34:45. > :34:53.The Dutch presidency of the EU came to an end.

:34:54. > :34:57.The EU must regain its confidence and fight growing populism

:34:58. > :34:58.and nationalism across the continent, said

:34:59. > :35:09.The European Commission performed a U-turn on is trade

:35:10. > :35:12.-- The European Commission performed a U-turn on its trade

:35:13. > :35:14.agreement with Canada, giving into pressure from France

:35:15. > :35:17.and Germany by agreeing national parliaments should ratify the deal.

:35:18. > :35:20.As figures show another rise in the number of migrants

:35:21. > :35:24.crossing into Europe, MEPs approved plans to set up an EU

:35:25. > :35:27.Border and Coast Guard Force to help member states under pressure.

:35:28. > :35:30.MEPs had some sharp exchanges in the debate about the result

:35:31. > :35:33.EU President Jean-Claude Junker mocked Brexiteers Boris Johnson

:35:34. > :35:42.TRANSLATION: Patriots don't resign when they get difficult, they stay.

:35:43. > :35:46.As for the outgoing Ukip leader, he says he will stay on as an MEP

:35:47. > :35:59.And with us for the next 30 minutes, I've been joined by two MEPs.

:36:00. > :36:01.Yes, they're still in the job for now, at least.

:36:02. > :36:06.It's the Conservative Amjad Bashir, and Labour's Richard Corbett.

:36:07. > :36:09.Let's take a look at one of those stories in more detail and that's

:36:10. > :36:13.the news that member states will now get to have a say over the EU's

:36:14. > :36:23.It could have big implications for other trade deals on the way

:36:24. > :36:25.including, of course, any new deal with the UK.

:36:26. > :36:34.If this has to go before all of the parliament, the hurdles are higher.

:36:35. > :36:42.This is part of a trend, not a one off decision. Trade deals if they

:36:43. > :36:47.are purely trade up to the European Parliament. Increasingly, trade goes

:36:48. > :36:51.into more things agree on common regulations which are a national

:36:52. > :36:56.competence so you need every member country to ratify. With 28 member

:36:57. > :37:01.states it could be a tall order. This could freeze trade deals by the

:37:02. > :37:12.EU. The Canadian deal will have some trouble. And the bigger North

:37:13. > :37:16.Atlantic trade deal with America, that won't get through national

:37:17. > :37:19.partners at all. This demonstrates how difficult it

:37:20. > :37:26.is to do trade deals with the EU. I am glad we are out of it.

:37:27. > :37:31.Not yet. Indeed, but we will conduct our own trade deals a lot quicker.

:37:32. > :37:37.If the EU can't do trade deals with Canada, who can it with?

:37:38. > :37:42.What about our own trade deal with the EU. If we are left outside the

:37:43. > :37:50.single European market, our main export market with tariff barriers,

:37:51. > :37:55.passport sporting for our financial services sector will be gone unless

:37:56. > :37:59.we get a deal. It will be more difficult to obtain than leaving the

:38:00. > :38:06.EU and negotiating afterwards from outside will be even more difficult.

:38:07. > :38:09.Canada had to start from scratch. Our product as locations are already

:38:10. > :38:14.there. But on the implications of what will

:38:15. > :38:19.happen with Canada, is it now possible that when we eventually

:38:20. > :38:25.come to agree the terms of Brexit, will that have to be agreed by 27

:38:26. > :38:31.national parliaments? The British people have spoken

:38:32. > :38:36.loudly, 17,000 Berger 17 million. The answer to my question?

:38:37. > :38:41.We have to start negotiating to deliver what people want.

:38:42. > :38:46.Who will gratify it? The new Prime Minister when she comes into being

:38:47. > :38:52.will invoke article 50. I know all that but what is it?

:38:53. > :38:59.Doesn't the Lisbon Treaty specified the ratification process? Could it

:39:00. > :39:03.be up to the national parliaments? If the new promise that gets trade

:39:04. > :39:08.incorporated in the divorce settlement, that needs a qualified

:39:09. > :39:13.majority in the council. If trade is left as a separate item, then the

:39:14. > :39:20.likelihood is it could be classified as a mixed deal which means every

:39:21. > :39:23.national parliament would need to ratify it. One of the great

:39:24. > :39:31.uncertainties. A new ball game.

:39:32. > :39:32.Sticking with this, one question is this.

:39:33. > :39:35.So, one question arising from the debate between the candidates

:39:36. > :39:37.to become our next Prime Minister is what happens to EU

:39:38. > :39:40.nationals living in the UK after we formally leave the union?

:39:41. > :39:43.Frontrunner Theresa May has said she can only guarantee their status

:39:44. > :39:45.as long as British nationals living in EU countries have their

:39:46. > :39:48.So, just how many people are we talking about?

:39:49. > :39:50.Well, according to the Office For National Statistics,

:39:51. > :39:53.there are 2.9 million people from the EU resident here,

:39:54. > :40:00.That includes people who've lived here for at least 12 months.

:40:01. > :40:06.It doesn't include those on shorter stays.

:40:07. > :40:10.Polish nationals represent by far the largest group of EU nationals,

:40:11. > :40:16.with 853,000 living in the UK, followed by Ireland and Romania.

:40:17. > :40:19.According to information collected by the United Nations,

:40:20. > :40:22.there are just under 1.2 million UK citizens living in the rest

:40:23. > :40:35.Of the 27 EU countries, Spain had the most with just under

:40:36. > :40:37.310,000 migrants from the UK living there in 2015.

:40:38. > :40:50.Ireland was second, and France third.

:40:51. > :40:58.Are you surprised that Theresa May has made the status of EU nationals

:40:59. > :41:04.and issue for the negotiations? I was on the Leave side. When I was

:41:05. > :41:09.asked questions during the run up to the referendum, I said that in

:41:10. > :41:12.future we need to control immigration. Those people already

:41:13. > :41:18.here should be allowed to stay. I haven't changed my position.

:41:19. > :41:20.But it is not what Mrs May is saying.

:41:21. > :41:26.But we have to take into account the 1.2 million of our citizens living

:41:27. > :41:29.on the continent. It would be a dereliction of our duty if we

:41:30. > :41:35.ignored that. I understand. You are facing both

:41:36. > :41:40.ways at once. Either the 2.9 EU nationals in this country are going

:41:41. > :41:45.to be guaranteed their status, continued status for the foreseeable

:41:46. > :41:49.future. Or they are a bargaining chip in negotiations, what is it?

:41:50. > :41:54.You have to take the whole thing together. Our citizens need the

:41:55. > :41:58.right to remain. Usually elderly people who have retired there are a

:41:59. > :42:03.vulnerable stage of their life. They need assurance they can remain that

:42:04. > :42:07.as well. It is right... It sounds like the EU

:42:08. > :42:09.nationals here are a bargaining chip.

:42:10. > :42:12.It would appear so from what has been said.

:42:13. > :42:21.It is even more contemplative than that. Not just about residency

:42:22. > :42:28.rights. EU law guarantees rights not to be discriminated against on

:42:29. > :42:32.grounds of nationality. A Brit living in Spain for instance, dying,

:42:33. > :42:39.what happens to the inheritance of their property? Some countries

:42:40. > :42:48.prescribe that. If we leave, we need to think of all these details.

:42:49. > :42:56.But do you believe that we should guarantee the existing status of EU

:42:57. > :43:00.nationals living in this country? Yes, people working here with

:43:01. > :43:04.families, part of the fabric of our society. To imply this is a

:43:05. > :43:08.bargaining chip which is not even necessary because if we do that I

:43:09. > :43:14.don't see any other EU country trying to retaliate.

:43:15. > :43:20.What about their rights? Is it right...

:43:21. > :43:26.Let him speak. Is it right when we are talking about EU citizens being

:43:27. > :43:32.allowed to stay here, which I agree they should, isn't it right we take

:43:33. > :43:35.into account our citizens, are we abandoning them?

:43:36. > :43:38.They have rights. You are implying other countries would challenge

:43:39. > :43:43.those bytes. If we are doing the right thing by EU citizens already

:43:44. > :43:48.here, they will do the right thing for British citizens already there.

:43:49. > :43:51.By putting it into negotiations you are saying, why don't you do the

:43:52. > :43:56.same and use them as a bargaining chip.

:43:57. > :44:00.What is the likelihood, 1.2 million spread over 27 countries,

:44:01. > :44:06.concentrated in Spain and France and Ireland, Ireland is not an issue

:44:07. > :44:10.because that won't happen, Irish people will continue to live here

:44:11. > :44:13.and British people will continue in Ireland. You can take that off the

:44:14. > :44:17.table. Would it not be a good position for

:44:18. > :44:22.Britain to take a high moral position, regardless of what you

:44:23. > :44:29.will do with our 1.2 million, the 3 million who are here in Britain,

:44:30. > :44:35.they are safe. It is not a question of numbers. It is our duty to look

:44:36. > :44:43.after them. There are 300,000 in Spain. They have largely gone to

:44:44. > :44:50.retire there. It is right we negotiate so they can remain. It is

:44:51. > :44:58.Brussels preventing us negotiating. They say you can't negotiate unless

:44:59. > :45:02.you invoke article 50. This is a bargaining chip. If you

:45:03. > :45:03.make this a bargaining chip, indeed they are in danger. If you don't,

:45:04. > :45:14.they are not in danger. It sounds like you have moved from

:45:15. > :45:19.guaranteeing they can stay to now agreeing they should be a bargaining

:45:20. > :45:26.chip after the campaign? I'm saying... We've not lied. The

:45:27. > :45:30.situation is, it's right that we guarantee the rights of our citizens

:45:31. > :45:34.who live on the continent. That's what we are trying to ensure. To do

:45:35. > :45:42.that you have to make the 3 million EU people living here a bargaining

:45:43. > :45:45.chip? That's clear? Rights for both. Our people on the continent, and

:45:46. > :45:52.people from the continent living here. That is not what Nigel Farage

:45:53. > :45:55.said during the campaign or leading Leave campaigners on the

:45:56. > :46:00.conservative side. Iain Duncan Smith, Chris Grayling... Andrea

:46:01. > :46:05.Leadsom, none of them said they would be a bargaining chip. The

:46:06. > :46:11.Leave campaign... I don't want at all, Bihar. -- on their behalf.

:46:12. > :46:14.Now, as you might expect, the result of Britain's referendum

:46:15. > :46:17.has raised some serious questions over the future of the EU

:46:18. > :46:22.Has Brexit damaged the European project, perhaps fatally?

:46:23. > :46:27.Or will it be the trigger the EU needs to bring

:46:28. > :46:37.Adam's been in Strasbourg to find out.

:46:38. > :46:39.Big moments in EU history, commemorated at the European

:46:40. > :46:47.This session, they have gone for a referendum them,

:46:48. > :46:55.Big Ben, a Brexit stamp and a picture of David Cameron

:46:56. > :46:59.This week, a lot of the talk in this place has been

:47:00. > :47:03.about what will Europe look like post-Brexit?

:47:04. > :47:05.Guys, I'm from the BBC, what direction do you want Europe

:47:06. > :47:14.The Dutch Prime Minister said the way forward is not big reforms,

:47:15. > :47:17.just a more effective EU, which is how the right of centre

:47:18. > :47:24.We are strongly against any kind of treaty change, we

:47:25. > :47:29.need concrete answers on the problems of the people.

:47:30. > :47:32.Stop the illegal migration flow which we saw in the last month.

:47:33. > :47:35.Find possibilities to create jobs for our young people especially

:47:36. > :47:39.If we deliver on such things, then people are happy with Europe.

:47:40. > :47:46.The Socialist group isn't just handing out goodie bags,

:47:47. > :47:50.they've also revived a plan by the European Parliament Presidnet

:47:51. > :47:54.Martin Schultz and his fellow German left-wingers.

:47:55. > :47:59.I heard from the quotes of those who voted for Brexit, yes,

:48:00. > :48:05.I can elect a Government and I can chase a Government out of power.

:48:06. > :48:12.So why not do the same in Brussels, to elect a Government which would be

:48:13. > :48:15.the Commission, and as well have the power to have a motion

:48:16. > :48:21.In the chamber, we saw even more extreme views.

:48:22. > :48:24.Uber federalists and those who really are not.

:48:25. > :48:31.And, in my opinion, a new project, a new vision should be presented

:48:32. > :48:40.Because the truth is European citizens are not against Europe,

:48:41. > :48:46.TRANSLATION: People want their sovereignty back,

:48:47. > :48:50.they want to cooperate freely in a Europe of sovereign states.

:48:51. > :48:59.And there is talk of whether the Commission President

:49:00. > :49:02.Jean-Claude Juncker should be in the driving seat.

:49:03. > :49:08.If Mr Cameron resigns, I think Juncker should resign also.

:49:09. > :49:19.Because his impudance was one of the reasons the UK leads.

:49:20. > :49:24.Enter the Slovak Prime Minister, who will chair a summit

:49:25. > :49:27.in Bratislava in September where all of this will come to a head.

:49:28. > :49:30.I have heard so many different plans for the future of the EU

:49:31. > :49:34.Mr Schultz's plan, Mr Verhofstadt seems to have three,

:49:35. > :49:39.Your summit in Bratislava, how will you choose

:49:40. > :49:45.TRANSLATION: More than 60% of our citizens support the EU

:49:46. > :49:48.but we would lose that confidence if we are too cool.

:49:49. > :49:52.So we have to listen to our citizens and bear their expectations in mind.

:49:53. > :49:55.It is clear that our whole house is not in order and we

:49:56. > :50:04.To cheer everyone up, a Northern Irish MEP invited

:50:05. > :50:08.this band from Belfast to Strasbourg this week.

:50:09. > :50:11.There are enormous questions about who will call the tune

:50:12. > :50:21.as the EU charts its future without the UK.

:50:22. > :50:28.He was one of the fiddlers! We naturally concentrated on the

:50:29. > :50:32.divisions Brexit has raised in this country, what our position would be.

:50:33. > :50:39.But it has created divisions in Europe as well. An two levels,

:50:40. > :50:44.Europe, the EU is divided on what its negotiation position should be

:50:45. > :50:48.towards us, and also divided on where Europe should go here, between

:50:49. > :50:55.those for further integration and those for greater nation state

:50:56. > :51:01.Corporation. Both mirror each other. The French, the Italians, the

:51:02. > :51:05.commission on the punishment beating more integration side, the Eastern

:51:06. > :51:08.European is on the Council on their less integration. Let's see if we

:51:09. > :51:15.can do a deal with Britain's lied. Do you buy that? To a degree, but

:51:16. > :51:18.remember the bottom line on the integration on less integration. The

:51:19. > :51:22.basic rule book of the European Union is a set of treaties which can

:51:23. > :51:28.only be changed to give more powers to the EU if every single country

:51:29. > :51:32.agrees. It can only move that the speed of the least enthusiastic

:51:33. > :51:37.country. On how to deal with Britain, I detect a shift of mood.

:51:38. > :51:41.The initial reaction was, you decided to go, let's get on with it

:51:42. > :51:44.and sort out quickly. Now there is a realisation that it can only be

:51:45. > :51:49.triggered by Britain giving in its notification under Article 50 and

:51:50. > :51:54.that Britain needs a bit of time to work out what it wants, what

:51:55. > :51:58.alternative is it negotiating for? We have no clarity on that. The

:51:59. > :52:02.Leave side gave two very different visions of flats, one inside the

:52:03. > :52:07.single market, but then you have to accept the rules of that market. One

:52:08. > :52:10.outside, but then you have to accept a tariff barrier. Both are

:52:11. > :52:13.unpalatable but we need to choose one or the other. There will be

:52:14. > :52:18.Leave voters who say, that's not what I voted for, that's not what I

:52:19. > :52:22.was told I might reopen the question is not why do you accept there will

:52:23. > :52:27.be private debate about the future of Europe? No appetite for further

:52:28. > :52:34.treaty change this side of the French or German elections? The

:52:35. > :52:39.Eastern European is to use Brexit as a way of building up the position of

:52:40. > :52:45.the nation state they even want to get rid of Jean-Claude Juncker.

:52:46. > :52:48.Angela Merkel made it clear they will not be doing negotiations with

:52:49. > :52:56.Britain, that will be a job for the Council and for her. So there are

:52:57. > :53:00.changes afoot. Yes, but I don't buy the line the member states never

:53:01. > :53:02.controlled the European Union. Every fundamental decision needs every

:53:03. > :53:07.national government to agree with it. Even when you need a qualified

:53:08. > :53:13.majority, that is a pretty hefty majority. The idea things can be

:53:14. > :53:18.decided in Brussels with member states being blissfully unaware...

:53:19. > :53:23.That wasn't my point. The division between Paris and Berlin in

:53:24. > :53:27.particular, how to handle this. The irony is that Europe could now start

:53:28. > :53:30.moving in more of a direction you wanted it to move in the first

:53:31. > :53:38.place, and we won't be there. I think Europe is in a pickle. The

:53:39. > :53:42.people of Europe are in a pickle. A British expression! The people of

:53:43. > :53:46.Europe want something similar to us, to bring democracy close to the

:53:47. > :53:51.nation and make decisions for themselves. Jean-Claude Juncker and

:53:52. > :53:54.the like would want a federal state with more and more power

:53:55. > :54:00.concentrated in the centre, and that's why Europe is about to

:54:01. > :54:03.implode. OK, we shall see if it implodes or not.

:54:04. > :54:06.Our guests of the day, like all of Britain's 73 MEPs,

:54:07. > :54:08.are now officially something of an endangered species.

:54:09. > :54:10.But they have the right to keep their seats

:54:11. > :54:12.in the European Parliament until the process of leaving

:54:13. > :54:17.So, when they do finally sign off from their duties in

:54:18. > :54:19.Brussels and Strasbourg, what will they miss?

:54:20. > :54:27.The grand old cathedral proves the first point,

:54:28. > :54:30.which is that Strasbourg is very easy on the eye.

:54:31. > :54:33.There's also an impressive son et lumiere show there every

:54:34. > :54:35.night during the summer, although when I went last night,

:54:36. > :54:46.The city is awash with patisseries, cosy bars and Michelin star

:54:47. > :54:50.restaurants like this one, where you can get the veal

:54:51. > :54:52.with gnocchi and mushrooms for just 49 euros.

:54:53. > :54:55.Although, MEPs actually don't spend a lot of time in the centre

:54:56. > :54:57.of town - they're over in the European quarter.

:54:58. > :55:00.Here, which is sort of like a theme park for Euro geeks.

:55:01. > :55:03.Over there is the European Court of Human Rights, peer through those

:55:04. > :55:05.trees and you'll see the Council of Europe,

:55:06. > :55:08.and over there - the official seat of the European Parliament.

:55:09. > :55:10.In here you will find the political stage on an epic scale.

:55:11. > :55:14.This is Parliament's debating chamber, known as the Hemicycle,

:55:15. > :55:17.and it's around 12 and half times bigger than the House of Commons

:55:18. > :55:19.chamber in Westminster, and while you're speaking,

:55:20. > :55:21.your beautifully honed words will be translated into 23 different

:55:22. > :55:26.It's quite a convivial place, dotted with bars and restaurants,

:55:27. > :55:35.like this one, and it's very, very international, which is great

:55:36. > :55:38.if you want to discuss olive farming in Greece from a feminist

:55:39. > :55:40.perspective, or the fiendishly complicated voting system here,

:55:41. > :55:43.One thing that no MEP will miss is the travel.

:55:44. > :55:48.I've now got to get the train to Paris, walk across the city

:55:49. > :55:50.to get another train, and then it's even harder

:55:51. > :55:52.if you're going to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

:55:53. > :56:31.big question is what happens to Adam after we leave the EU, never mind

:56:32. > :56:38.the MEPs! Remind me, what is the role of the European Parliament in

:56:39. > :56:41.the Article 50 process of exit? It would have to approve or ratify any

:56:42. > :56:47.agreements reached between Britain and the... Wilbur plan B British

:56:48. > :56:53.MEPs will stay at least until that vote? Yes, legally they are still

:56:54. > :56:57.members as long as Britain is a member of the European for union. I

:56:58. > :57:03.assume you would want to stay until that vote? You will want to make

:57:04. > :57:07.sure there is a majority to ratify whatever the British government has

:57:08. > :57:11.agreed? I would leave tomorrow if it was possible, but the thing is, you

:57:12. > :57:15.are absolutely right. These negotiations are to take place and

:57:16. > :57:19.we have to ratify them. So I remain until that is done. Are they already

:57:20. > :57:24.treating you as second-class citizens? No, that is not the case.

:57:25. > :57:28.There was apprehension after we went back after the Brexit vote, but I

:57:29. > :57:37.think they have come round to it now. Are they? Or will you slowly be

:57:38. > :57:41.sidelined question mark some understandably say if you are on

:57:42. > :57:47.your way out, it is not so much your concern what we vote on. But as long

:57:48. > :57:52.as we make contributions, continue to make contributions, we need to be

:57:53. > :57:59.on the committees, we need to check things and make decisions. Is a

:58:00. > :58:05.former MEP employable? Well, if we are outside the European Union, we

:58:06. > :58:09.will still want to influence it. Maybe we could get a job in

:58:10. > :58:15.Brussels. In Brussels. You want to be back in Yorkshire? Absolutely.

:58:16. > :58:19.You have plenty of time to get your CVs ready for a new job, have you

:58:20. > :58:28.taken tips from Andreas Beck? Certainly not. Maybe she would have

:58:29. > :58:33.some good tips. I would carry on working in Yorkshire for the party

:58:34. > :58:38.and try to get membership from the blue-collar workers of Yorkshire and

:58:39. > :58:43.the communities. All right. At least two years to go, at least? It

:58:44. > :58:48.depends how long Britain takes to secure what it once and then trigger

:58:49. > :58:53.Article 50. And that is what we will be covering. That is it for now,

:58:54. > :58:57.thank you to my guests, hope to see you again soon, goodbye from

:58:58. > :59:00.Politics Europe. A CHOIR HUMS: Adagio For Strings

:59:01. > :59:04.by Samuel Barber