04/11/2012 Sunday Politics East Midlands

In the East Midlands: Is it time for people with

disabilities to make their voices heard? We'll be hearing from the

Nottingham man who's become Britain's first ever councillor

with Down's Syndrome. And the Chancellor on the East Midlands

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2060 seconds

In the East Midlands, is it time for people with disabilities to

make their voices heard? We all hear from the Nottingham man who

has become Britain's first ever councillor with Down's syndrome.

And the Chancellor on the East Midlands economy at. More money for

investment in the region and for apprenticeships that you see being

taught behind me. More from George Osborne in a moment and this week

my guests are David Tredinnick, Conservative MP for Bosworth and

Chris Leslie, Labour's MP for Nottingham East. Guy Fawkes would

have loved it - plenty of fireworks in Westminster. The return of

Michael Heseltine warning David Cameron that he must do more to

encourage growth and a rebellion about Europe. Heather Wheeler,

Nigel Mills, Andrew Bridgen rebelled on Europe, what do you

think about that? The budget being frozen is a very sensible policy.

What do you think about the people who did not go along with you?

Parliamentarians can vote according to their wishes and according to

their innermost beliefs. In my case, I thought the right thing to do was

to support the Government who have a sensible position. Chris, you

have a lot to say on the EU budget debate. Were you arguing for a cut?

Absolutely. If you have got people being asked to give back child

benefit, cuts in public transport and policing, public transport, why

should the EU budget be exempt from that? We were arguing that freezing

the budget - and when they say freezing that includes inflation -

it is not ambitious enough. They should be aiming for a reduction in

real terms and that is the point we were making. Parliament decided to

tell the Prime Minister that was his task and that is what he must

now deliver. The other argument is the opposite, which is it is

ridiculous going into an untenable position. It is the toughest

position we have had a hand and he has said he will veto if he does

not get what we want. The Deputy Prime Minister says that he does

not want to go down that particular route and the Prime Minister has

got one view and we hear today Ken Clarke talking about it being a

ludicrous position and the difficulty for the Government is

that they are divided into so many different fragments. Can I just ask

you, Chris, handed it feel voting alongside right-wing Tories -- how

did it feel? It is in the interests of the taxpayer and getting the

best deal. At home, so many people are suffering because of the

Conservative austerity. Who better to ask about the East Midlands

economy than the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he was in Derby talking

about apprenticeships at Rolls- Royce but with our region coming

bottom of the league when it comes to government cash for regeneration,

we wanted to know if you could see more help in the future. Our

correspondent asked him about his plans to boost the economy.

East Midlands has got so much good about it, some great firms and

people and the East Midlands, if it puts forward some new bid, can get

government investment in the regional growth projects we want to

see. And yet in the recent round of growth funding, we came bottom of

the pile, below the south-east of England. Can that be right? We have

got a pot of money and the independent panel, not the

politicians. That panel look at who bids for that money. So why am

willing to work with the East Midlands to improve the quality of

the bid to make sure they get the money and the funding they deserve.

The money is there of the economy is like here. We put money into

this facility, the apprenticeship academy which we are standing in

today and that happened under this government so we are committed to

the future of the East Midlands. You are saying it is down to the

business communities to come up with better bids? We must get more

investment into the East Midlands and it cannot be the role of

government by itself, it cannot be the business community by itself

because then it does not get the support that the Government can

provide, it is only when the two worked together. Together we can

have success stories like the one behind me. There will be more money

for investment in the regions and the East Midlands, more money for

the can of apprenticeships that we see been caught behind me.

Miss Lesley, you are looking shocked there. -- Chris Leslie.

have seen investment in regional growth cut by half under this

government so I can't see where this money is coming from. The East

Midlands has done particularly badly under this government because

they centralised the decision- making under this thing called the

regional growth fund thing. Are you suggesting that we have not had the

correct bid? Plenty of people criticise the previous systems but

at least there where decisions about support in the economy in the

actual areas and because these are things made in Whitehall, it is no

wonder that London and the essential areas do better than

elsewhere. That is the problem, they need to devolve some of these

situations. But he was saying he wanted to help businesses make

those bids. Unfortunately, those of the words from the Chancellor and

the actions do not run the match that. He has recommended more money

for the regions, David. Is there an opportunity for the East Midlands

here? The regional development funds do work and the Chancellor is

saying the money is there but you must have affected birds and it is

important that our region put in better bids -- effective bids. We

need to fight for the money to come here and there are some great

success stories. A company in my constituency is expanding in

engineering and Churchill's now have a company in Mexico are taking

on apprentices there. We are rejuvenating the economy and a

million jobs in the private sector. Does Lord Heseltine's report give

us an opportunity? Nothing succeeds like success, he is the man who

regenerated the Docklands, got Liverpool going again. He has come

up with a very good package to bring different organisations

together in the regions so that we can have a more effective way of

attracting growth, making people happier in their lives through

better jobs. A lot of good ideas there but the reality is, I am

afraid, are falling very short of that. Heseltine was very critical

of the Government's approach, has in fact I'm it -- we have seen a

flat mining economy. What would you do, Chris? An auction of the Forgie

mobile phone spectrum which will raise �3 billion -- four Jeatt

mobile phone spectrum. That will provide money for affordable homes.

People are suffering out there and this Utopian idea that everything

is rosy is totally out of touch. The reality on the ground... A

chemical plant in Derby, 350 manufacturing jobs cut. It is all

very well Rolls-Royce announcing apprenticeships but they cannot

said the economy on the bone. Labour Party spent too much and

left as a terrible legacy and we are reducing the overspend, giving

low interest rate. And we are creating an environment where new

businesses can thrive and that is what is important. That is why our

international competitors are envious and why we have low

interest rates unlike most of Europe. But move on. The success of

the Paralympics has proved a people with disabilities can take a full

part in sport at the highest level does the same apply to politics?

Frances Ryan is studying at the University of Nottingham about

politics for a PhD and she does not feel disabilities are represented

in Westminster. I am researching equal-opportunity

I also write about equal opportunities and particularly

disability issues. In the summer, people were glued to the TV

watching Paralympics, people like Richard Whitehead when gold. It

helps get disability into the mainstream and shows the way

disabled people can represent their country. People seem uncomfortable

with it, particularly in politics. You only need to look at the

current Cabinet to see a model of an unrepresentative bit of

government. White male, middle- class and not one single disabled

person. You can run for your country but not run your country.

11 million people have disabilities in the UK. 7% of the population.

Lamb only aware of 6% of MPs, 1% of the comet. -- that is only 6% of

MPs. David Blunkett is the most famous disabled MP, famous for his

guide dog. Why does it matter? Disabled people face a lot of the

same issues that everybody else does. But for them, the issues

really hit them harder. Disabled people are more likely to face

poverty and their interest really do need representing. But how will

we do that. How will we get more disabled MPs into Parliament? There

are many barriers in the way. Money is important for example. The Home

Office released a funds to cover the extra cost that disabled

candidates might face. Such as a sign language interpreter and

transport. But other more complicated things exist.

Management of hours that people must do. A current campaign to

allow MPs to job-share, for instance. We need to think about

that. Who leads us really does matter and for a lot of

marginalised groups getting that thought is the thought of power is

an important first move. I am delighted to said that joining

us to debate this is a man who has just made history, Stephen Green is

thought to be the first person with Down's syndrome to become a

councillor anywhere in the country. He has just been appointed to

Nuthall Parish Council and he is here with his very proud father,

Grenville. Stephen, congratulations. Thank you. How does it feel? I feel

better now. You looking forward to it? Yes. Are you nervous about it?

No! Do you know what you will do when you will get in at there?

will go for it. I am looking forward to it. Stephen does not

know what he is in for exactly but the point of this is that it is not

a joke. He has been put up for a parish council and are asked him

when this came up, would you like to have a go at the parish council?

And he said yes. He has done what anybody else can do. It is a shame

that somebody did not stand against him because it is only a small area.

You must be very proud. I am over It is a great achievement. Do you

think we need more people like Stephen coming into politics?

think it would be great if more people were. Robert Hall Farm, Jack

Ashby, but lots of scope for people to become researchers in the House

of Commons and work with MPs and develop skills and perhaps then

they can go on and get a vote. Chris Leslie, Frances pointed out

that there are very few people with disabilities at Westminster. Is

that a problem? I think so because the people want the House of

Commons to be broadly reflective of the population as a whole. If

people think it is nothing to do with their real lives, they will

not feel as if the laws of the land are reflecting their own

experiences. If you are able to do the job and you can command the

confidence of the electorate - and that is the key thing - then people

are free to elect to they like. are a bit of a role model, really,

aren't you, Stephen? Yes. They will be looking to you to see how you

get on. The policies on the school... This is where our Amber

his personal assistant. We are talking about places in the City

and he is a volunteer at a school with children with learning

disabilities. Getting that the election, the parish councils and

town councils should not be political. It should reflect the

grassroots and this is Stephen reflecting his grass roots, if you

like. He decided he wanted to do it. You are hoping that other people

will follow in his footsteps? course. We have a person who picks

letter, you never hear anything about him, he is a great man. He

picks letter. He should be on the parish and town councils. -- litter.

Are you playing at politics, Chris? We need to get people from all

sorts of backgrounds but we can also disagree with each other. It

is ultimately about the legacy you leave behind but you look at some

of our colleagues who have a disability, David Blunkett for is

an -- for example, he has achieved a matter mat in spite of his

disabilities. Love him or hate him, people have got lots of opinions

about what he did when he was in Westminster, and that is what

matters most. A serious point is being raised, especially when

benefits are being cut. You are changing eligibility. We British

people about this issue and they said that they are very worried

that nobody is speaking up for them in Westminster. You touched on that

but that is a real problem. I don't agree with that, I think we will

always represent those who are as capable as we are because of

disabilities. We are always making it a priority in Westminster, the

benefits system is chaotic. One universal benefit is the right way

forward and it is also right unpopular with most people that it

should always be better to be in work than on benefits. That is a

financial inducement to get into work. I am sure we all wish Stephen

the very best in your new role. Good luck. Let us know how you get

on. He was there until 2015, he is there until that date so he never

gives up. Good for you, Stephen. We have been saying for weeks but the

Police and Crime Commissioner elections are now just two weeks

away. This week is art look at all the candidates in Leicestershire.

Three candidates for Leicestershire and Rutland. Sir Clive loader is

standing for the Conservatives, a former front line pilot with the

RAF Flying ing campaigns in the Falklands, Iraq and the Balkans. He

is now retired and has a parish councillor in Rutland.

So Russell is Labour's candidate, a Leicester City councillor and

chairs the safe at Leicester partnership. She is a mother with

two children. The Independent councillor has been

a community leader for more than 30 years and a former magistrate and a

community advocate. All three have been at the hustings event at a

market Harborough Church and our reporter caught up with them there.

The candidates are ready and the public are arriving and before they

arrive I will talk to people. Clive, you are the Conservative councillor,

what do you know about policing in the City? Quite a lot are for the

last five months. I have educated myself a lot about the police and

about the concerns and aspirations of the people who live in Leicester

City. I think I am pretty well versed. Sir Russell, the Labour

Party candidate, what do you know about rural policing -- Sarah

Russell? Have been working on the strategic partnership initiative

looking at issues across the board. I am hoping that will come in handy.

The only independent candidate, this is an extremely diverse patch,

how will you be able to have an opinion about both sides, the City

and the two counties? I am a resident of the city for 30 years

and my role in both the county and the City and there have been

involved with the police force for 15 years and I understand both

sides of the border. Clive, you have a military background, what

use will that be to you if you were to be the Police and Crime

Commissioner here in Leicestershire and Rutland? He is enormously

important. In my last job, I commanded a lot of people, 31,500.

�2.6 billion budget and I think those will be critical skills.

Leadership and management, certainly budgetary knowledge and

the fact that I have taken some very hard decisions with regard to

budget and staying within them. These are skills that will be

required in big measure for a successful Police and Crime

Commissioner. Sarah, you have got tough competition, why should

people that for you? I am approachable, people know me very

easily. I work across partners and bringing people together is a skill

of mind. I have got a track record with results, leading difficult

budget, working with community safe project and making things better

for people. The only other two candidates are both from main

political parties. Don't you need that kind of backing to win? I do

not think so. It should be independent because it is something

we must guard. However I feel that all three candidates that are

looked at in this race our friends and we have formed a good

friendship with each other understand away from party politics

nevertheless. Don't forget, these elections are

taking place right across the East Midlands and you can find out about

your candidates in your area by going to the politics pages of the

BBC website. You certainly can and next week we

will look for the Lincolnshire candidates. Now a round in 60

The future of the region's biggest newspapers is up for debate.

Northcliffe Media, owner of the Derby Telegraph and the Nottingham

Post, is in talks with Trinity Mirror over the creation of a new

local newspaper group. Regional papers have lost thousands of

readers as the recession and the internet have hit sales. Dick East

Midlands Euro-MP Emma Cartland has added her voice to calls for a

super-fast broadband system to be rolled out across the region. She

has told the UK Government that technology is vital for business

growth. Key bars wants to hear from victims

of anti-social behaviour. -- Keith Vaz. He is chairing a select

committee which is about to take a closer look at government plans for

new laws. Safer cycling and tougher laws for

cyclists - that is the call from Nottingham North MP Graham Allen.

Seven cyclists have died so far this year on Nottinghamshire's

roads compared with two last year. Graham Allen is lobbying for light

Cycle safety, a serious issue that Graham Allen has raised. Are you

for helmets being warned? So to me for lights and it is already too

not ride with light. I am not convinced about helmets. For short

journeys and on roads that are not a long traffic it is not necessary

and peoples must make their own journeys. I have written a cycle

and I like to feel the wind on my face -- with in a cycle. The roads

are dangerous. Seven killed on Nottinghamshire's roads. Seven

people is a tragedy but in proportion... Look at the number of

cyclists out there, a very tiny amount. I am sorry but the trade-

off, the wind in your hair versus the harm that can come from some of

these accidents. You must ensure that we have decent cycle safety.

People used to make this argument about wearing a seatbelt and what