21/09/2013 Dateline London

Now it is time for Dateline London. Welcome to Dateline London. Labour

begins to flesh out what it would do in government, Germany goes to the

remains uncertain, and a little in government, Germany goes to the

of wind between the United States and Iran. I am joined by Mustapha

Karkouti of Gulf News, Greg Katz of Associated Press, Eunice Goes, a

We are in the middle of conference season, and the Labour Party has

government. It comes as the UKIP begun to explain what it would do in

government. It comes as the UKIP Does any of this feel as if British

politics is changing significantly? All of the party conferences are

setting up the election pitch. Labour starts off a little bit on

the back foot because of the big about Gordon Brown 's former spin

doctor —— by Gordon Brown 's former #ColourWhite which was that they

that it is quite bad. Although the were all knifing each other. Yes.

that it is quite bad. Although the Daily Mail has made a valiant effort

to link Ed Miliband to it I do not think that that really quite works.

But of course it is true that you have a leader of the Labour Party

and the Chancellor that both worked for Gordon Brown. It is not a great

they will do their best. That said, things like reversing the bedroom

tax, that the spending commitment, something which they said they would

not do Tilney wrote that —— that they would not do until nearer the

election. That is put in some meat in. It is quite a big step for Ed

Miliband to take. It will be popular with the supporters. They have to

fight to show that it does not mean that they are against all forms

fight to show that it does not mean welfare reform. But they need to

make a strong case that this is welfare reform. But they need to

very unfair tax. It seems to be unpopular and a campaign against it

seems to have been quite vocal, mobilised and so on. If you are

going to do something on welfare from the Labour perspective and

going to do something on welfare is perhaps the easiest one to pick.

They are saying that they are going to put a cap on welfare spending,

essentially copying the coalition. They are trying to mark themselves

resonance with the waves of most out, by showing a difference. The

resonance with the waves of most voters. —— the lives of most voters.

But he has to get rid of that clunky voters. —— the lives of most voters.

language about widening access to childcare. What does that mean?

language about widening access to does he not see that we are going to

raise the minimum wage? It needs to be easy to understand and direct. In

this morning 's papers, Douglas Alexander has said that they might

take a leaf out of the Ronald Regan saying, are you better off than

take a leaf out of the Ronald Regan were four or five years ago? Which

was his saying that sank Jimmy Carter. Cancer to that for most

people would possibly be now. —— the answer to that. David Cameron will

come back and say that he was left with such a mess that he could not

have made it any better. But Ed Miliband 's very predictable less

than charismatic delivery, no one has done anything that has really

blown up in his face, and maybe has done anything that has really

is the person to lead the party has done anything that has really

this election. It was interesting to see pictures of him with his family,

on the beach, something which I see pictures of him with his family,

before. Is it him saying, I am like before. Is it him saying, I am like

you, I am a family guy? We mentioned Ronald Reagan. His people invented

this beautiful staging of political events to make them look perfect,

somebody said. But it showed him in events to make them look perfect,

somebody said. But it showed him in jeans. And he would jeans that

time, we see him with his family. I do not recall seeing him with his

it will happen. But what really do not recall seeing him with his

it will happen. But what really strictly the most is the latest

Yes, Rachel Reeves saying that they to £60,000 area. A lot of people

think that that is rich. I have worked for about 50 years in my

think that that is rich. I have yet. So it is hard work to earn

£60,000. Watched you make of the have the UKIP leader, Nigel Farage,

who manages to connect with people in this country. He made what a

who manages to connect with people of observers thought was a good

speech. —— a rude speech by Godfrey Bloom. It was a dramatic and fairly

holy area is a dramatic and fairly holy area solicitor and UKIP 's

fundamental problem —— hilarious illustration of UKIP 's fundamental

problem. They have a charismatic leader but not very many friendly

types around him. It was a bit of a should not write this man off, Nigel

Farage, the leader of UKIP. They are riding the tide of Eurosceptics

in a rather toxic week, into a major this country quite well. He is

want our country back, but the point issue. —— immigration. He said,

months time and that is unacceptable he made was that you could have

months time and that is unacceptable —— Bulgarians. It is a good lesson

for the Conservative party, because UKIP managed to wait in their appeal

by moving from Europe into widening their message on immigration. What

Euroscepticism, it is immigration. These are the issues people care

about. In a very curious way, Manuel endorse UKIP, but was suggesting

that many voters may choose to vote Conservative party. Manuel Barroso

should keep out of the national politics, because before he went to

Brussels he had already ruined the Portuguese national economy, so

Brussels he had already ruined the other big change in British politics

is the possibility of another hung parliament, another coalition.

European country. That is the irony. The Lib Dems this week, Nick Clegg

government for the rest of your has said that we have got used to

more European with the coalitions, life, possibly. I agree that it

more European with the coalitions, but I thought that if Nick Clegg, if

that is the best thing that he can say, it is pretty weak. If the best

thing he can say is that he is in the middle and not as bad as the

also there is a restlessness among as his previous election promises.

also there is a restlessness among British voters to find something

different to break the mould. I think that Nigel Farage is very

astute in the way that he presents himself and is good at tapping into

it. Without meaning to insult Manuel Barroso, any time you would put

it. Without meaning to insult Manuel picture on the television, British

voters will think of UKIP. You will bureaucrats, faceless people, that

they might vote for Nigel Farage. It is very likely to continue to the

end of the government time. I will happening again, whether Labour

end of the government time. I will Conservative wins the majority at

coalition now, yes it is a European fact of life, it has become a fact

of life in Britain as well. I was going to ask, Donald, about your

thoughts. It is one year to go until the Scottish referendum. That throws

a lot of calculations, it is fair to say that many people in England

a lot of calculations, it is fair to wondering why they should care about

it. As someone who listening wind of Scottish ancestry, I think we should

care a lot. This is a very big political events coming down the

of... What at the moment is slightly track. Although there is a sort

of... What at the moment is slightly dangerous is that in government

of... What at the moment is slightly it is going to be all right because

for independence which I personally in the end the Scots will not fought

rather more engaged with this. think that English people should

rather more engaged with this. Because although in my view cutting

think this is a big event coming yourself off from England would

think this is a big event coming down the track and of course would

be disastrous and domestic political times for David Cameron. Being the

Angela Merkel remains the most powerful woman in the world and

Europe 's most powerful leader. powerful woman in the world and

it a good thing for all of Europe if she receives a new mandate from

German voters this weekend? What coalition will we expect and will

she be able to offer the kind of leadership that Europeans say that

they need but do not much like if it comes from Berlin. Is there much

cheerleading in Portugal for Angela Merkel? Not really. And I do not

capitals, because she is going to continue to be chancellor and there

is no hope in times of change of strategy. We are going to continue

to muddle through the year is on the crisis. No big bank solutions, no

crisis. She will probably start crisis. No big bank solutions, no

the budget targets, the budget deficit targets, to the countries

that have been bailed out. Greece is going to need another bailout. And

in Portugal as well. I —— a new bailout is going to be needed. We

massive interest on debt and the are paying out this massive debt,

massive interest on debt and the deficit is still pretty large. There

in the end result and the collapse deficit is still pretty large. There

in the end result and the collapse Any German leader would take broad

note of what the German electorate countries and would be moving along

in the same direction. There is countries and would be moving along

small party that would pull out countries and would be moving along

the whole thing. Whether it is a grand coalition or a continuation of

we will see much change in terms of grand coalition or a continuation of

we will see much change in terms of charismatic and not reaching out to

people in southern Europe, but she has been steadfast in keeping her

charismatic German leaders before! absolutely pivotal, and she has

charismatic German leaders before! absolutely consistent. The leader

here does not really matter. What really matters is the country.

Just imagine Europe without Germany. There will never be Europe without

Germany. What makes the leader more effective is the country. In this

case, whoever is there, Angela Merkel will still be working. I

think an even more weird thoughts Germany without Europe. That is

quite a scary thought. I think Angela Merkel is a traditional

politician who also understands Angela Merkel is a traditional

and believes that it is essential Europe. Two other quick points.

and believes that it is essential you were hinting at earlier, she

to be hugely successful. I think believes that you do not have to be

to be hugely successful. I think that is quite a plus for her. Also,

about her, which is that she clearly that is quite a plus for her. Also,

about her, which is that she clearly European Union. As Cameron goes

negotiating and having a referendum, I think it is probably quite a good

thing from his point of view, and Angela Merkel at the helm. I am

thing from his point of view, and too sure about that. I am not so

sure that she will cave into the demands David Cameron. She may be

more sympathetic. She may help to gloss a significant negotiating

victory for David Cameron. You could say that if the Conservative Party

are given what they want to do and they cannot get on with Angela

Merkel, it will be difficult to they cannot get on with Angela

a relationship with anybody in Europe, because they come from the

same place in terms of austerity David Cameron is putting huge hopes

in David —— Angela Merkel. The General assembly is coming up. It

points to the potential of a new and better relationship between Iran and

the United States, with Syria now weapons. Should we begin to be

optimistic? There is a general feeling around the region that the

new language and approach. He has new president will bring with him

new language and approach. He has exchanged letters, for example.

new language and approach. He has is meeting the French resident on

Tuesday during the meetings in the General assembly. But he is not

meeting Obama. There are rumours General assembly. But he is not

meeting Obama. There are rumours that he might. Beside that, whether

or not he meets Obama, certainly he that he might. Beside that, whether

or not he meets Obama, certainly he certainly Iran is a speaking a

different language now. He has been at the helm of nuclear negotiations

for many years. On security, he at the helm of nuclear negotiations

sitting on committees for at least 16 years. On top of that, he has got

the blessing of the spiritual leader of the country, and he has got an

authority. He told ABC television that he has the full authority of

the Ayatollah. The only problem that he has the full authority of

that is that, from the American perspective, there have been so

that is that, from the American moderates of Iran over the last

that is that, from the American years. The Obama administration

that is that, from the American be very cautious about this. This is

positive until the instant where it seems to follow apart. There is

positive until the instant where it of good reason to hope that the

moment. All of the signals being sent back and forth, there could be

substance behind them. This is the time for Obama, if he is going to a

comp which anything in the foreign accomplish anything in the foreign

Some commentators think that America just is not in the game properly. I

influence in the Middle East than we influence in the Middle East than we

did 15 or 30 years ago. But the influence in the Middle East than we

that Obama's this plot —— diplomacy has been in disarray, I do not buy

and Obama is some big loser, I do has been in disarray, I do not buy

and Obama is some big loser, I do not buy that. Obama with that out of

There is a ground to be optimistic not buy that. Obama with that out of

There is a ground to be optimistic here. Let's not forget that America

could have never withdrawn from Afghanistan and now Iraq next year

without some kind of agreement and understanding with Iran itself.

without some kind of agreement and government running Iraqi —— Iraq has

influence. Now it wrong can deliver Syria as well. They have Hezbollah

working and upgrading next to the Syria Army in Syria, killing Syrian

people, and that is affecting things in the political game at the moment.

One of the bizarre things about years is that Iran has been helped

immensely by American policy. They neutralize the Taliban regime in

Afghanistan. Now perhaps there will be a deal in. That would be in the

is trysts —— that will be a deal in interest. Even before the president

was elected, it was thought that Iran would have to play some role if

there would ever be a successful piece conference to end the civil

war. Now it has become even clearer. I think it is very pragmatic. I

something and achieve something about this being a disaster and

something and achieve something really sensible and a much more

pragmatic way towards Iran. And really sensible and a much more

is without dropping a bomb with really sensible and a much more

on anybody. American influence in the Middle East might have been

on anybody. American influence in greater in the last 30 years, but it

extent. This is a great opportunity, agree. The US has never used their

extent. This is a great opportunity, because it is showing what the

possibilities are of diplomacy and patients rather than, let's drop

some bombs and see what happens afterwards, like some people were

defending. I do not know how much the Congress will cooperate with

Obama. This is going to be the next headache. We should cherish this

moment of rationalism, of people should be cherished. We do not often

and on an optimistic note about should be cherished. We do not often

Middle East. I am really optimistic about that. I hope the leadership

will work. That is it for this week. You can comment on the programme on