23/09/2012 Sunday Politics East Midlands

Canon Nick Clegg Bristol the furniture inspired a Liberal

Democrats? And had get don't for the summer's

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2022 seconds

contributions for keeping this I was outside does have a jolt

Armando. There is a cross country campaign and this first step deeper

came from Cambridge to come over. It is important that people are

coming together, acquiring for a review of this decision. Our

review of this decision. Our survival rates for some of the best

survival rates for a step it is really important that MPs by

booking together with this. Will it make any difference? Are we are

hoping that this new evidence will be looked at. We are hoping Jeremy

Hunt will agree there will be a wider review. It is really

important that everybody books together - the clinicians, a

patient groups MPs. The decision to close the unit is a wrong one.

Mickey, you hosted a meeting, looking at keeping this unit. What

looking at keeping this unit. What came up to that meeting. We have

looked at additional evidence. Things like the expected numbers of

patients, a mortality rate of the unit, the additional pressures on

the beds already in Birmingham. The view is that the review team do not

know the whole picture. Liz, John and I sat down with these people,

representing other MPs, and we have spoken to Jeremy Hunt already.

is the opposite case - you on this in your backyard, but your

government is responsible for making these cuts. This is not

making these cuts. This is not about cuts. This arises from the

Bristol Heart scandal forced up it was all to do with having bigger

and save the unit's. The argument we are making is we have at a

world-leading, specialised service end Leicester. Doing really want to

put in jeopardy? Can start as a same do not ruin it. This is not a

party political issue. There are plenty up NHS policy areas I

disagree with. This is not party political. That is what we are

working together with this, trying to get this decision reviewed.

What is that sound? That is the sound of the Liberal Democrats and

the East Midlands! The party may be in government in Westminster, but

right here, it has been losing power and seats. Nick Clegg came to

the region ahead of this week's Lib Dem conference to raise support

cost up they could all hear him, but what they are listening?

Limp -- Nick Clegg knows that the message of them gets a sceptical

hearing. The party faces a struggle. But Nick Clegg believes long-term

decisions, taken by the Lib Dems in government, will win back voters.

government, will win back voters. Whether it is the big tax changes,

Whether it is the big tax changes, whereby you will not pay tax on

your first �10,000, whether it is the fact pensioners have the

largest tax increase in the state pension, where there it is the

biggest number of new apprenticeships and the East

Midlands and the last 20 years, the pupil premium, a lot of these

things have taken up at a time to come through. That Deputy Prime

Minister had been invited by the Nottingham poster face an audience

of its readers. He took questions of the calf. He won prizes for

honesty and been prepared to face voters. It was interesting, did not

anything you. Was not overwhelmingly convinced. I got the

feel of this is a government not listening well enough to the real

people. It was really nice to hear from Nick Clegg himself, first hand,

without the purse having third taken up. Not too keen on his

opinion. There was an even more hostile reception from Nick Clegg

at Trent Bridge, as the Deputy Prime Minister met Liberal

Democrats inside, outside, unions staged a protest. It is to get the

message across to Nick Clegg and his allies that it is about time

they stopped backing this Government and stuttered to stand

up to it. By now, he is used to the criticism. Where people want to

criticise Liberal Democrats, we should take it on the chin, but we

should also hold our heads up high for stepping up to the plate when

the country was on the brink, back in 2010. We have done this

painstaking, unpopular will go to prepare and reform the British

economy. It has also boosted jobs and the Green economy, making sure

children from poor backgrounds could do better start in life,

giving pensioners a decent state pension. Nick Clegg was once an

East Midlands MEP. He knows it could take time the Lib Dem for a

chance to improve and the region. You were at that meeting at Trent

Bridge with Nick Clegg. What did he say to you? He did not need to say

too much, because we already have a love to have that morale. The

members in the East Midlands are fairly positive and energetic. We

have had a few setbacks and the local elections, but we still

control two local authorities. he did not apologise? No, but we

discussed a buzz of issues around the coalition and Hank will we need

to cement are so put in the region. After the meeting, it did you say

anything that prompted that pilot she? There was a discussion on a

range of issues, and one of the was a student tuition fees. Nick Clegg

has been up and down the country, and Martin was the last stop.

During that time, he has been listening to members up and down

the country. Surely, some of them are painting quite a gloomy picture.

We do not have any Lib Dem MPs and the East Midlands. We don't, do we

have an active MEP. We are the strongest opposition in two county

councils. So, you are comfortable with the situation as it is? We are

not comfortable. We want to do better. We are not completely

complacent about the situation, but we are also not at a loss with

morale. Are you worried that disaffected Lib Dem voters would be

turning to Labour? It will be interesting to find out where the

Lib Dem voters to go. Local by- election results tend to suggest

they are split over the place. Some go to Labour, some come to us, and

some will stay with the Lib Dems for a step in Loughborough, a lot

of people went to the Lib Dems because of the Iraq war, and the

question will be whether that will still be an issue. What about this

took of a Lib Dems turning to Labour? There will be relations

between all sorts of politicians. There will be Labour politicians,

Lib Dems, Conservatives. I am not sure what the country will think of

it for a stab at the moment, we would try to go for a majority

government. Would you party work with the Lib Dems? We need to

rebuild trust with the British people. If it but you back under

government? And that all happen in the next election? With people who

we have strong sympathies with, like Linda -- Vince Cable, or we

will work with him. But let us be clear with Nick Clegg's apologies -

he has apologised for making the pledge and the first place. It is a

rather cynical manoeuvre, would you think back to the general election,

they used this as a campaigning tool. This was not a casual pledge.

This is what they campaigned on. could be said you are haemorrhaging

support in the East Midlands. Is that the man at the top who is to

blame? No. The apology he has made, we have to respect somebody who, in

politics, feels that mistakes have been made. There are not many

politicians to make apologies on public platforms. Tony Blair and

never made an apology for the ruck or, and golden brown did not make

any apologies for selling gold reserves at half-price. Patricia

Hewitt never made any apologies over the commitment she later

Lister Hospital. It takes a certain level of politician... A OK, but we

have heard, on the doorstep, people are campaigning. When they go to

the disturbed and say Nick Clegg's main, people do not want to know.

knock and us every week. Things are getting progressively better. Since

we lost our local councillors, we are not getting the service we used

to have before from local Lib Dem councillors. That is where Labour

had taken control. Labour take local communities for granted.

tie your tactics for when East Midlands come back? We have to

continue to work go have a strength - hour care ended up communities in

the upper community politics for a step Liberal Democrats are the

strongest under work at your local people for a step you're no putting

anyone up for Police Commissioner - is that Pat of a plan for a step

that a share it is do we feel that local people make a decision for a

step numbers and the East Midlands felt that there was none needs for

a step this is the first Sunday politics since the summer break, an

older, they have for us is that we Has a back and the party

conferences are a planners, it is time to prepare the garden for the

return. It has been such a memorable summer. Now, back to a

routine, and in the political undergrowth, it is not that

difficult to find and uncovers some familiar political problems. You

wheeze Minch was first of the block. Her surprise resignation gave ppm

and early summer headache. The result? An unwelcome parliamentary

by-election. She stated families being the prime reason, but she

also felt she had not been rewarded for her media appearances and

supporting government. What was the Prime Minister's reaction? They are

upset. A clubby by-election and the election of the year police and

crime commissioner as well give us an insight into the political mood

of the East Midlands. Them and his disappointment. David Cameron came

in to do with the deficit and promote growth, and growth is non-

existent. Then there was David Cameron's reshuffle. The others, a

case of a political pruning. Out winds Edward Garnier a, Ken Clarke

was shunted a tough justice. Grantham and Stamford's MP is now

planning minister. Prime Ministers are strongest in the first up to a

three years of government. It would be hardest for him in the future to

stamp his political will in the future. By at a time, a Sunday

politics Dutch as Archbishop at the medals. So there goes to reach

mention for his sprinting over the finishing line by resigning as

clubby MP, to Madrid is into the job. And go to - Richards the third,

who offered his kingdom for a close and produced a comeback of the

summer. Arguing that just have unearthed to what they are

convinced of the remains of the former King of England buried in a

car park in Leicester for a step if it does turn out to be Richard the

third, he would likely to have be state funeral?

I would come and I would like him to be buried in Leicester Cathedral.

We heard it there that Cameron is very upset at Louise's resignation.

How do you feel about it? I think Louise had been a good MP, but I

feel sad and. She tried very hard to juggle all the different bits of

her life, and being an MP is so hard if you have young children.

it too much for her? The difficulty was she met and married somebody

last year, who was based in the States. What I have heard is the

Prime Minister did everything he could to try to make it possible

for her to juggle things, and it did not work. It is not good to

lose a fellow woman MP. Absolutely. She made such a remark in

Parliament. She was changing the perceptions are politics. Louise

engaged with the public. To lose someone like that is a great shame.

It has been an inch a stink reshuffle. We now have a health

minister here. Nicky has been made a blip, and I am delighted for her.

I do not understand why Edward Garnier got the sack. But I have

got to say, he was decent. He go to a knighthood. Were though, it there

was nothing for the women. We have been hearing this week about the ex

MP for Gedling, the new Chief Whip, cooling the police plebs! It has

grossed a behaviour. And as soon brie is already making the

headlines are disturbed by a big part of your new job to rain

colleagues in? I am not sure whether that is possible. That

interview was just an hour through him through. People want to see

personalities in politics. There were undersea ministers to listen

to what people are telling them. I know she will be doing that. It is

a massive task. There are lots and lots of changes. The whip's Gerber

is a mixture of administration, planning what goes through

Parliament and dealing with MPs. And listening and working with all

sorts of personalities. Will that take you away from the constituency

and constituents? We spend more time with Westminster paperwork?

The good thing about being a wet is that there as though a little

paperwork. My PHI does come a week hence, of the assessors are here to

be spent in Loughborough. When I was elected, I wanted to put the

leftovers in the heart of Westminster. That will make that

two Job harder? Representing Loughborough? But then goes back to

Women in politics - and we did it multi-tasking and juggling? You can

I put a minister. And that is how a good to speak to Jeremy Hunt. The

links will continue. Joan, what is at the top of you to do list?

same issue is has been for the last 12 months - economy and

unemployment. Although, actually, unemployment came down by 13 in my

constituency. Youth unemployment is still too high. We need a problem -

- proper government scheme. What about you, Nicky? Journeys write

about jobs and skills. The my other great passion is mental health.

all happened about that? I let the debate in June. Last week, we saw

the men to hurt discrimination book at his second reading in Parliament.

We have got to go further. I hope that I am other colleagues can work

with our local health services and see how they are looking after

people for a step let us catch up on the other name Stowers of them

In a 19% Swing Glenn that Labour has won a County Council election

for a step or 2000 jobs could be crude a day and had business

package bed Baker ended up to 50 companies are attracted by the City

does my Bignell a manufacturer's first step Nigel says much for us

and the East Midlands have shown to spare tape since the defection of

Conservative MEP for a stab Rach -- road show left at the Conservative

Party for a step closer our plans anything over a government decision

not to do it protected status to a PCSO chip!

A 19% swing to Labour. Is this a sign of things to come? It is a

sign that results are all over the place. There were always local

factors at play. It is a big swing. It was an independent who died in

caused the by-election. There all sorts of factors. People are voting

on local candidates, local factors. It is very hard to discern any kind

of overall movement. You should be picking up votes. A spectacular