15/09/2013 Sunday Politics East Midlands

brightest hopes, Sarah Teather is now heading for the exit. We will

hear from Nick Clegg on what it signifies.

hear from Nick Clegg on what it And freshly showered from the Great

North Run and looking as fresh as daisies, the best and brightest

Janan Ganesh, Helen Lewis and Iain Now, their leader is our Deputy

Prime Minister. They are the junior government. They like the colour

yellow and they have not won a general election since dinosaurs

walked the earth. Now they are behind UKIP in the polls, so as

walked the earth. Now they are party gathers for its annual bash

this year in Glasgow, what is on their mind? Who are the people

gathering at the Clyde this weekend? their mind? Who are the people

Before they started drinking, we councillors in England and Wales,

comrade. The first question we asked was, if the next election results in

a hung parliament, which team would you rather go into coalition with,

the Reds or the blues? Lib Dem councillors said Labour, two to

the Reds or the blues? Lib Dem Tories or Labour? It is not for

the Reds or the blues? Lib Dem to say. It is for the voters to

say. We will decide depending on councillors favoured a coalition

is on the table. Who would you rather play table football against?

because I am winning. So in the winning 's which ones are heading

popular policy was a mansion tax on house is worth more than £2 million,

popular policy was a mansion tax on councillors. The next most popular

policy was scrapping the Trident nuclear deterrent, supported by

policy was scrapping the Trident of councillors. Then there was the

reinstatement of the 50p top rate of income tax. 70% of councillors like

the look of that. When it came to the idea of banning the burka in

public places like schools and airports, 45% of councillors were in

favour. Finally, a ban on topless Page three model is won the support

of 33% of councillors. Why is it so popular, the idea of a mansion tax?

It is a much fairer tax. We know there are people out there with

It is a much fairer tax. We know expensive houses. Which of these is

most important to you? Banning Trident. The cold war ended in

1989. Another one was the idea of banning the burka in public places.

whatever they like. If they want to banning the burka in public places.

wear the birth or a kilt or if they anything. We are the party of jobs.

Thank you. Last night, a fully clothed Nick Clegg rallied his

troops, but if he was not around, who would Lib Dem councillors want

instead? Business Secretary Vince Cable was most popular, with a third

of the votes. In second place, the party's president, Tim Farron, with

27%. 10% went to Danny Alexander, while the business minister Joe

Swinson received 7%. The Energy Secretary Ed Davey scooped 6%, and

in last place, Steve Webb, the pensions minister, who got 5%. If

any of these councillors want to talk to me about it, I would be

delighted to hear from them. Is talk to me about it, I would be

certainly isn't. What do you think contenders. But our survey is not

the only one that has got tongues wagging in Glasgow, because the

the only one that has got tongues Dem leadership have commissioned

their own poll which showed that 75% Dem leadership have commissioned

of the country will never vote Dem leadership have commissioned

the party, no matter what they do. Also meeting here this weekend,

the party, no matter what they do. Democrats like to think they have

got just as much va-va-voom, even if a big chunk of the country doesn't.

Add, back in his hometown. So, a big chunk of the country doesn't.

Much of their party thinks they a big chunk of the country doesn't.

moving in the wrong direction. Earlier, I spoke to former party

moving in the wrong direction. leader Paddy Ashdown. He has been

put in charge of heading up the leader Paddy Ashdown. He has been

election campaign. I asked him if the mood in Glasgow was grim. No. In

many ways, as you know, Tory old commentator that you are just as I

am a hoary old member at the other end of the camera, we have been

midterm of a government, especially when you are in government and the

country is going for in a deep economic crisis, has almost no

relevance to where you might be economic crisis, has almost no

the nipple come to consider how economic crisis, has almost no

will vote in 600 days time -- when the people come to consider how

will vote in 600 days time -- when will vote. We do not dismiss polls,

but they are a snapshot of what will vote. We do not dismiss polls,

indication of where we will be. will vote. We do not dismiss polls,

guess is, for what it is worth, will vote. We do not dismiss polls,

as we come to the election, the public will be in a very serious,

probably frightened mood. Their public will be in a very serious,

thoughts will be, who maintains public will be in a very serious,

job, makes sure I don't have to public will be in a very serious,

to higher mortgage? The coalition has delivered not only the required

policies to make Britain's economy prosperous, but also its society

fair. That is what people will want to see. I think coalition politics

are here to stay and we have a role to play in it. But you are in a

are here to stay and we have a role mood this morning. You tweeted that

you were not happy with how the Observer newspaper handled your

there anything we can do to help? There is probably something they

arguments with the interview. The headline they chose to put on it

late last night was outrageous, misrepresentative and in one case in

Something about Ashdown wants a coalition with the Tories, or at

Something about Ashdown wants a least they gave that in for us

Something about Ashdown wants a inference. Let me make this point.

campaign. Any journalist who in election. I am in charge of the

campaign. Any journalist who in these next two years says that any

Liberal Democrat prefers anything else in terms of the outcome of

Liberal Democrat prefers anything coalition but the result of the

ballot box dictating that outcome, that any prefer one side to another

coalition determined by the electors that any prefer one side to another

in the votes, will get a bloody that any prefer one side to another

time from me, no matter who they are. We take the warning. A survey

of Lib Dem councillors shows that in coalition with the Tories. That

of Lib Dem councillors shows that in clear sign that your activists want

a change of direction. I don't think it is news that as a left-wing

party, we find it more congenial with those on the left wing, but

that is not the issue. You saw it election. We are servants of the

ballot box. We do watch the British people require us to do to provide a

of our country. I am sure you have stable government in the interests

of our country. I am sure you have got the point by now. I have fought

the Tories all my life. But when responsibility to amend the economic

crisis, was this right for the determine who are going to be in any

coalition, should there be one, determine who are going to be in any

voters and nobody else. It is not about what we like. I understand

that. But your own internal polls leadership are not taking the party

with them on that. I don't think that is true. Nick Clegg has done

what no other party leader has done. He took the coalition agreement

what no other party leader has done. the party, and they voted for it. So

it is not true to say that members different direction. I think we

it is not true to say that members extraordinarily united. I did not

expect them to be so under these pressures, but they have surprised

me and made me joyful at the same time. The party has done what it

done in local government for a long time. We may have our private likes

and dislikes, but the thing that time. We may have our private likes

coalition is the ballot box. You have said that three times. I can

say it again if you like. Please don't! What if your party votes

say it again if you like. Please reinstate tuition fees as party

policy afternoon? We will have to listen to that and act accordingly.

You must listen to the voice of listen to that and act accordingly.

party and take it into account in what you do. I am always quite

answering hypothetical questions. I don't think it is likely to happen,

but if it did, we would have to don't think it is likely to happen,

distinguished Lib Dems was that don't think it is likely to happen,

your party conference voted for something, it was in the manifesto.

The manifesto is taken in its final form before the party for decision.

The party will express views at form before the party for decision.

stage in all sorts of ways. It did in my leadership, too. The manifesto

is democratically agreed by the party at the time of the election,

not before. The Tory conference party at the time of the election,

be about how they think they have been vindicated, that austerity

be about how they think they have worked, the economy is turning a

corner. But Nick Clegg's conference announcements will be about plastic

bags. Have you got the hang of this coalition think? Andrew, you can

always be guaranteed to put things in the most discreditable form!

always be guaranteed to put things is part of your charm. That was

about to be a minor announcement in the middle of his speech. But it was

discovered beforehand. It has not the middle of his speech. But it was

discovered beforehand. It has not been very popular in terms of how it

has been received, but that is not the central message. That leads

has been received, but that is not to what I think is the biggest

election. Isn't the biggest danger that the Tories, not you, if there

is an economic recovery, they will get the credit for it? I don't think

think the electorate does gratitude. The only time people cast a thank

Thatcher over the sale of council houses. We could have a different

discussion over whether that was a good idea. But what you have done is

the underpinning for the promise of government, we have stayed firm

the underpinning for the promise of very tough economic policy. But

the underpinning for the promise of you get the credit? What we have

done by ourselves, which the Tories would never have done, is make sure

that when the pain is felt, it is not the poor who feel it. We have

seen the biggest shift of taxation, lifting the poorest in the country

out of taxation, that has ever happened, including in the previous

Labour government. You are presiding over the biggest squeeze on living

standards in modern times. Because it is the biggest recession in

modern times. When you speak to it is the biggest recession in

2.5 million people who have been lifted out of taxation altogether

because of the Liberal Democrats, tax cut. You may be able to make the

because of the Liberal Democrats, connection, Andrew, you are a sharp

economic crisis and difficulty for everybody. But it is clear that

economic crisis and difficulty for the Tories had been by themselves,

none of that would have happened. We have sought to shift the burden

none of that would have happened. We from the poorest in this country. I

am part of that. So when we go into the next election, the message will

am part of that. So when we go into be that if you want to continue

am part of that. So when we go into have a prosperous economy and a

society, only the Liberal Democrats will deliver that. Tim Farron says

want to diss him. Can you confirm he likes Ed Miliband and he does not

want to diss him. Can you confirm that there will be no dissing of Ed

Miliband? It is not much my style. I've never much liked comments about

the other leaders. I do not intend to make it so in the future. Can I'd

finish up on Syria? You said after the Syria vote that Britain was

finish up on Syria? You said after hugely diminished country. Given it

both sides on a course which could now see Syria give up chemical

weapons without records to military action, would you like to withdraw

these remarks and admit that you action, would you like to withdraw

these remarks and admit that you Britain has done? No. You and I

these remarks and admit that you know, because we are old observers,

that that would never have happened underpinning of a threat to use

resigned from that. We have no part to play in the fact that Assad and

Putin have moved towards peace for to play in the fact that Assad and

fear of military action. We decided exactly the opposite. Why would

fear of military action. We decided liked to have seen our country join

in with those who are serious about upholding an international law which

left others to make sure that we talent, but instead we resigned

left others to make sure that we moved towards peace. -- even the

Maxis and Stalin. But if it had moved towards peace. -- even the

would not have had the time to allow this to happen. It has avoided war.

Job done, British Parliament. That would be true if it was accurate but

it is not. The resolution proposed a delay, that we should wait until the

inspectors came back. That time frame was absolutely nothing to

inspectors came back. That time with the parliamentary vote. The

vote was going to incorporate that. I do not think you can claim what

vote was going to incorporate that. remember that diplomacy, which was

not reinforced by the threat of military action, does not work.

not reinforced by the threat of is when diplomacy runs with a grain

of military action that it works. illustration of that, look at what

is happening over the last two weeks. By regret to say that our

country, which has always been in disengagement, had no part to play

And you we would get to the Balkans eventually, and we did. His biggest

challenge is if the economy is get some credit for the Lib Dems,

when the Tories will want to halt it all. But his position is not to

when the Tories will want to halt it the necessary axeman. That is George

Osborne's role. Their role is to be Osborne's role. Their role is to be

the chaser party, taking the edge off. They will because of me going

on about the pupil premium and That is what you will hear from

of the cuts. Will that work? They them, how they have taken the edge

of the cuts. Will that work? They are in a pretty good position. Even

if they have lost two thirds of are in a pretty good position. Even

popular support, according to the polls, I do not know anyone in

Westminster methinks that will be matched in their parliamentary

representation. If they have 56 matched in their parliamentary

now, they might lose a dozen but Strategically, they are in a better

position than the reading of the polls would tell you. I think Nick

Clegg's survival has been one of the stories of this Parliament. He is

looking good at the comfort -- at the conference. When he was at his

lowest after the AV referendum, people were saying he would survive

I thought that was fanciful. Believe and lead us into 2015 and beyond and

I thought that was fanciful. Believe it or not... Paddy Ashdown was

wrong, you were wrong and... I wasn't. I'm underestimated how bad

his rivals are. If you are Lib Dem member, however aggrieved you are

with Nick Clegg, you do not think, wouldn't it be great if Christian

was in charge? Nick Clegg is the best they have. -- Chris Huhne was

in charge. Of course, the people do in charge. Of course, the people do

government and it is a consequence of the way they vote, a different

matter. If Janan Ganesh is right, and they lose 15 seats in the next

pivotal in the next government. It Possibly the most amusing outcome

would be a Labour or Tory overall majority, which would be hilarious

for the look on Paddy Ashdown's face. The danger is they get trapped

constantly in talking about the politics of coalition and of a hung

parliament. And they are very puffed politics of coalition and of a hung

parliament. And they are very puffed up and they enjoy Parliament and

there is a possibility they will not be. While they are talking about the

Polish and themselves, they are be. While they are talking about the

talking about the issues facing be. While they are talking about the

coalition. It was interesting that he said that we are a left-wing

party, not a centre-left party or a centre party, but a left-wing party.

I'm going to put myself in the firing line and say that there is a

big split between the Tim Farron firing line and say that there is a

line who say they like Ed Miliband, and another one, Jeremy Browne in

the Home Office saying that Labour are intellectually lazy. The risk

clearly a clique around Nick Clegg who wants to be a synthetic party,

but that is not where the membership who wants to be a synthetic party,

activists are clearly of the left, not just the centre-left. They are

very pro-immigration and they want strategy has to be to take the party

to the centre. The something not happen at some stage? The poll

suggests it is a left-wing party. happen at some stage? The poll

Very left-wing. Other think the happen at some stage? The poll

would have yielded -- would have yielded the same results before

would have yielded -- would have 2010 election. This is reflected by

the arithmetic. Whichever party 2010 election. This is reflected by

biggest will most likely be the 2010 election. This is reflected by

in coalition with the Lib Dems. 2010 election. This is reflected by

Clegg's on latitude to choose is exaggerated by us. The choice is no

parliamentary arithmetic. But if you remember the structure of the Lib

Dems, they can tie themselves up in infighting. -- the choice is not

stable. And Nick Clegg has had a good conference last year, and will

have another one this year. The economy is better than it was a

have another one this year. The ago. It could still go quite well

for him. Yes, it is one of the ago. It could still go quite well

stories of this Parliament, his survival and the way in which he has

prospered. But there are a lot of campaigners, labour activists who

have not forgotten what he has done in government and are determined to

get him. It will be a tough year and a half. Tougher than he imagined.

Now, not so long ago they were writing George Osborne's political

obituary. Be on the Omni shambles budget of 2012 and a lacklustre

performance of the British economy meant his reputation work -- was in

the dirt. -- the omnishambles. But things have changed. The Chancellor

is saying he has been vindicated. If runway, it looks as though the

British economy has taken off, quarter. Forecasts for the rest

British economy has taken off, the year have been revised up words.

What's more, the office for National recession never actually happened.

Unemployment is down in the three months to July and the number of

spasticity rate since 1997. On Monday, George Osborne said his

policies were bearing fruit. We Monday, George Osborne said his

our nerve when many told us to abandon our plans. As a result,

thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of the British people, Britain is

turning a corner. The message for his Labour critics was clear. The

Chancellor thinks he was right and they were wrong. And Chuka Umunna

Good afternoon. Good afternoon.Do you accept that the economy has

turned a corner? I think it is good that a stalled recovery appears

turned a corner? I think it is good get this in perspective. We have had

three wasted years. We have the worst economic recovery in history.

Debt is up and we have record youth programme if they feel better or

worse off, compared to 2010, the majority will tell you they feel

worse because, on average, wages are down by £1500 compared to May of

2010. That is the situation. The one of the things we have seen

talked about, Vince Cable has been talking about this as well, is what

is happening in the housing market. It seems that much of the solution

to powering the recovery in the It seems that much of the solution

of George Osborne lies in sorting out the housing market but the

problem is, we are at risk of being another housing bubble. Because

problem is, we are at risk of being research that came out this week, we

know that housing in the UK is three times more expensive than in the US.

know that housing in the UK is three We know that house prices are rising

five times faster than wages, but we also know that the government is

five times faster than wages, but we building new housing at a slower

complaining about a housing bubble, rate, the slowest rate that we have

complaining about a housing bubble, isn't that like Satan complaining

about seven? -- seven. We all know that we cannot go back to business

as usual. We need to build a new model of growth. But the housing

bubble you talk about, it is not a bubble. It might turn into one.

bubble you talk about, it is not a said the risk of a bubble. It is

nothing like what happened on the I said, in 2009, we had the crash

and we knew we needed to reconfigure the way that our economy works.

Having an economy based on crisis is rebalance the economy. We saw the

unemployment statistics this week, and it is welcomed overall, that

unemployment has come down. At half up. And it went down in other parts.

We know that we need to rebalance our economy, so that we do not just

rely on consumption, but that we grow our productive sectors. And

also that we grow our exports as well. We know we have a continuing

deficit. We always have a trade deficit. There was never a trade

surplus under Labour. Want to come onto what you have mentioned but

scheme? We have not said that we would you scrap the help to buy

scheme? We have not said that we would do that. Why not if it is

causing the bubble? If you let me finish, on one hand what that scheme

does at the moment, at the moment it is inhalation to a new scheme but

tomorrow -- next year it will be in you do not sort out the supply of

housing, then that is a recipe for the problems we have seen. Our

argument is build more houses. Help more people to buy them by all means

but if you do not have the supply more people to buy them by all means

but if you do not have the supply you will end up with rising prices.

That is obvious. Labour said that government austerity would prevent

the return of growth. Austerity government austerity would prevent

were wrong. We never said that growth would never return. What

were wrong. We never said that said was that if you went for an

were wrong. We never said that overly extreme deficit reduction

recovery and you would choke growth. That is what we saw for three years.

If you say, look at the US economy, it has grown at three times the

If you say, look at the US economy, economy has grown at twice the rate.

But the British economy is growing quicker than the American or German

economy is now. But over time we have not seen that happen. But it is

now. That may be the case. But my point is that those three years

now. That may be the case. But my people undergoing huge stress and

worry. It is good that we have growth back again but the question

is, what kind of growth? What we have said... I'm going to come onto

that but your credibility depends on your previous analysis. And there

are doubts about it. This is what you said not that long ago. In

You and the Labour Party said it had choked off growth. You were wrong.

We were not wrong, because we had three years where the economy was

not moving. Let's remind ourselves. Claude Osborne was predicting that

the economy was going to grow by 6.9% between the start of this

Parliament and now. It has grown by 1.8%. We did not say we would never

have a return to growth. You never said that austerity would only

temporarily delay growth. We have looked through your speeches and Ed

Balls'. We can't find any reference to say this is simply delaying the

recovery. You said austerity would choke off growth. If that is true,

why has it returned now? Did we choke off growth. If that is true,

it would choke off growth for ever? choke off growth. If that is true,

We did not. You have changed your tune. I think your package at the

top of this programme, to frame tune. I think your package at the

around George Osborne, this is not a people's lives, and the people who

deserve huge credit for the growth we are seeing are our country's

businesses, who despite the tough economic times, have succeeded.

businesses, who despite the tough are the ones who have powered this

growth. It is not for us in Westminster to take credit. But you

blame the government for lack of growth. So therefore, when the

growth comes, the government has to take some credit. Look at the

situation Britain is in now. We know the recovery still has to reach many

parts of the country, but this is the OECD annualised growth in the

G-7, the world's guest economies. That is looking pretty healthy. That

is a recovery. I am not denying that That is looking pretty healthy. That

we are seeing a stalled recovery, but who benefits from the growth? On

average, your viewers have sustained a £1500 pay cut. That is the second

biggest fall in the G20 since May 2010. Because we had the biggest

financial services sector and took the biggest crash. Financial

services are still in decline. Financial services are about 10% of

the economy. They are not the only contributor to the economy. The

point is, who benefits? Unemployment is falling, but we don't just want

people to have any job, we want them to have decent jobs that pay a

weight you can live off and that are more secure. Let me show you the

unemployment figures. Your criticism has been that all the new jobs are

part-time. They are not now, they are full-time. Full-time

unemployment, up -- full-time employment, up 94,000. This is a

short time frame. It is since the recovery began. Half the jobs that

have been created since May 2010 have been part-time jobs. Roughly

107,000 people are working part-time who would like to work full-time.

Over the last 20 years, people now feel more insecure at work than

ever. The question is about what feel more insecure at work than

kind of growth and employment you are getting. The other point is the

uneven spread of this across our economy. In places like the

north-east and north-west, the Humber, the east of England, they

have seen unemployment increase. I agree that there was a regional

imbalance, but the service sector is growing, cheering and construction

are growing and financial services are in decline, so the rebalance is

happening. It is not happening to the degree we need to transform our

economy so that we have a long-term, sustainable model of

growth. That is why we need a comprehensive industrial strategy

that all of government works towards. Your party conference is

coming up. I am sure you are looking forward to it. Why do Ed Miliband's

approval ratings get worse the more people see of him? I don't accept

that. I have given you the figures. Polls go up and down. I have said

that on this programme before. But his approval rating has consistently

gone down. What actually matters our votes. Under Ed Miliband's

leadership, the Labour Party have votes. Under Ed Miliband's

put on almost 2000 extra councillors in places like Canada case, even

Whitney. What is wrong with Whitney? We have been putting on votes. Let

me show you this. This is the net satisfaction rating. Your leader is

now more unpopular than Gordon Brown was when he took Labour to the worst

defeat in living memory. Gordon Brown did not put on anything like

this number of councillors. Votes are what matter, Andrew. Few people

think Ed Miliband is a capable leader. Twice as many people think

over Spurs who lives on the moon. These are polls. If you are talking

to me about over Spurs lit, that puts this into context, Europe

session with polls! -- Elvis Presley. Since 2010, we have put on

thousands of members. Compare that to the Conservative Party, which has

not won a general election since 1992. They will not disclose their

membership figures. Why -- why won't you pledge to renationalise Royal

Mail? Because that would be like writing a blank cheque. We don't

know at the moment how much the government would receive for the

sale of Royal Mail? So how can I judge how much it would cost to buy

it back? That would be irresponsible. But the government

does not need to do this right now. The entire country is against it.

Sources in the City and Whitehall tell me that if Labour pledged to

renationalise it, it would kill off the flotation. So if you are against

it, why don't you do it? For me to pledge to renationalise Royal Mail

would be like writing a blank cheque. But if you put it in the

prospectus, people in the City, who know more about these things, say it

would not happen, so why not do it? Because that would be irresponsible.

It would be like writing a cheque for billions to renationalise Royal

Mail. You would not have too right at the check if it did not happen. I

have to deal with the facts. I am not good deal with the plot somebody

might be speculating about in the City. We have to be careful about

this. For me to pledge to renationalise it now would be like

writing a bank cheque . We are going to be a fiscally responsible

government. That is why I am not prepared to do that. Ed Balls will

not be talking to you. You are watching the Sunday Politics. Coming

up in 20 In the East Midlands: County

councils had to cut millions of pounds from their budgets and now

they are turning to you for ideas. If they were in an orchestra, they

would be on fiddles. That is absolutely untrue. Nick Clegg tells

us that he thinks we are warming to the Lib Dems. I get the impression

that people in the East Midlands, much as other parts of the country,

are developing a begrudging respect. My guests this week are Jessica Lee

and Graham Allen. First, thousands of youngsters are heading off to

university, but thousands are into. East Midlands has some of the lowest

figures are people going to university in the country. Graham's

constituency is officially the lowest. Teachers travel to

Westminster to meet the educational secretary to voice their concerns.

How did it go? It went well. We spent over an hour speaking to the

Education Secretary. What they need is small bite—size bits of learning

to build their confidence, motivate them and show them they can achieve.

I'll be bothered about loosening the modules —— are they bothered? My

kids don't like that, there are frightened of it. So why not stick

with what we have gotten the moment. It has provided a tremendous

improvements. 90% are more —— 90% more people from my constituency are

going to university. We have to help young people in the East Midlands to

aspire. Not everybody is good at the exams. If there is continuous

assessment throughout the year, it helps? It changes the way of

helping. It can help them to meet the changes that are suggested. In

my constituency, the system that we have had for many years of building

people up is actually working. There are no tangible improvements. My

worry is that if we change for the sake of it, it will frighten the

life out of the youngsters and my constituency, we will arrest that

development and kids in my patch won't get that chance that we have

all worked so hard to give them. I hope the Secretary of State has

listened to us and hope he will come back with some minor changes to help

children and my constituency to flourish as in others. We have a

good and improving uptake for university and our constituency. It

is right that the Education Secretary met with Graham. I think

that is good news. I find Michael Gove very approachable and amenable

to ideas. We need to follow it up and see what response we get there.

We will follow that with interest. What are you most prepared to see

dashed libraries closed, care for the elderly cut or other council

services? Leicestershire county council says

it needs to find £110 million worth of savings in the next five years.

In Nottinghamshire the figure is £154 million. And Derbyshire county

council says it has took at £157 million. Leaders from Leicestershire

have been in Westminster this week to meet Conservative MPs from the

county. In Nottinghamshire the county council has launched a public

consultation. It wants to hear what services the public are prepared to

seek at. We went out with the leader of the council to meet the voters.

£154 million has to be cut from Nottinghamshire county council. They

are asking you how they can do that. I am here to find out your

views. I have the leader of the county council with me. Shall we

asked people what they think? Yes. More people on the ground doing the

actual work and not too many managers. What do you say to that?

It is interesting to hear these views. There will be further job

losses. There will be job losses in management as well as elsewhere in

the management. You have built a new library building, to me there was

nothing wrong with the old library building. You should look to do

something in the library for the children, you might save money doing

it that way. There is no money for the youth. Where do you think this

man can cut the £154 million from their county council's budget? We

haven't got a bus station for a start. We are waiting for one of

them for quite a long time. It has been delayed again. You will have it

by next winter. You can only cut so much. You need the services. Why not

ask government as they can cut any of their budget, the Houses of

Parliament? They have decided we should be cutting our budgets. You

never see anybody saying, we are going to cut the site of our budget.

The county council and a waste of time. Why are they a waste of time?

If they were in an orchestra, they would be on fiddles. What do you say

to that? It is absolutely untrue. I understand why people might have

that perception. Fair play to Alan Rhodes to take

part in that. You are never going to be sure how people are going to

react to you when you're out in the street. The Conservative Council

light Leicestershire are having to go cap in hand to Westminster to

Conservative MPs to say, do not cut funding any more. We have got to

deal with the reality. Most people in my constituency understand that.

They are understand that the country has overspent and the appreciate

that. They need MPs to make the case to request for funds in a way that

they think will best serve their community. I think most people

understand that. Nottinghamshire county council have announced they

will stop paying their workers are living wage. How can they afford

that? —— are going to start peeing. I think he has been courageous going

out to the public and speaking to them about this. —— I hope this is

opening up a dialogue with people saying, if you want good services

local or a good health service, you will have to pay for it. I would

like to see local people deciding what they are prepared to pay,

politicians of all parties going out to convince them on the arguments

and engage with them. If you fit it to people that if we pay a lot —— a

little more for our police then we have less crime. If you invest in

children, early intervention, that'll pay back in the long term.

People are not stupid, they get these arguments. At the moment, all

parties say that if we cut the fat out, it will be OK. Where can these

cuts come from? I think this is what MPs need to do. To make those

representations. Where can these continuing cuts come from?

Foreigners start, you heard on the film there, the man was pointing out

that there are too many chiefs. —— for a start. There has been a lack

of accountability in the public sector for a long time. For

example, I was horrified to read that under the last Labour

government, they ordered 28 luxury coaches. What about elderly care?

Local industry should be benefiting. There are savings that

can still be made. I absolutely believe that. Where can these cuts

be made? I will give you an example, I think people need to have a longer

sighted view as well. For Derbyshire, the new Labour county

council at the moment are having a consultation idiot. There are no

decisions made. —— consultation period. £157 million they had to

save and Derbyshire. That is a lot more than the —— than they were

having to save. I think that this process is important. People can

find those savings. Focus on keeping the front line services. I think it

will pay off in the long term. You think that front line services will

be protected? I cannot see what Derbyshire county council will do. I

am saying that should be the priority. I would have one, cut

central government out of the loop on raising money and let local

people, local politicians, argue it out. I have faith in my politics

that I can convince people that they should pay an adequate amount of

hassle tax. Other taxes should be allowed to be raised if the local

electorate agreed to it. —— council tax. Is that Labour Party policy?It

is not. I am working hard to win over the Labour Party. Most other

weathering —— Western democracies have councils that are independent

and that listen to local people. That is the sort of system we need

to build in this country, otherwise we will be back here next year

having the same discussion. I hope not. The Lib Dems are holding their

annual conference. They are looking to see how they can

win here in the East Midlands. We have only one MEP N control of one

district Council. Nick Clegg told us that he sees that as an improvement.

It is a lot better than it used to be. For 70 years we were not

represented a Parliamentary level. I am aware that in the last three

years while we have been in coalition, we have suffered in the

polls and there has been a temporary it to our popularity. I get the

impression that people in the East Midlands, much as in other parts of

the country, are developing a begrudging respect that we have

stuck with it. If we had not, we would not begin to see the start of

an economic recovery. Without the unanimity —— unity and resolve of

the Lib Dems, we would not see a change like we have. Better state

pensions, more apprenticeships, the people —— pupil premium in school,

most notably as of next April, no one in the East Midlands will have

to pay a penny in income tax from the first £10,000 the peak. All of

that are good Liberal Democrat achievements. But I think we need to

shout about them more. In two years ago you were here with the Prime

Minister announcing a new enterprise scheme. I am frustrated that some of

these enterprise zones have got stuck on various details. I would

like to see the enterprise zone at the site I did visit myself, move

forward as quickly as possible. It is a great way of attracting

investment and generating jobs locally. Will your rallying cry be

to the Liberal Democrat conference, hang on? Is that the best you can

do? It is more uplifting than that. We have done great things in

government. We are the only party of the liberal central ground. If you

want a party that believes in a stronger economy, doing the

difficult job is to do that, and a fairer society, then the Liberal

Democrats are the only party able to deliver that in British politics. We

will hear from an East Midlands Lib Dem hoping to make a breakthrough.

Vince Cable was here to visit the biggest live them success story in

the East Midlands. The party is in charge here. He was realistic of the

challenges facing the Lib Dem is making more games in the area. We

have got a base in several areas. We have been strong in other parts of

the area, Leicester for many years. We have had a base in Nottingham,

not now, Chesterfield used to be a state we had control of. It has

fallen away now and we recognise that reality. Being an government

has been a mixed blessing politically. We get criticised for

everything that goes wrong, but we are now beginning to get the message

across that we have made a positive contribution in government. You can

always rely on Vince to be a straight talker.

You are part of the largest Lib Dem branch in these midlands. It is the

exception not the rule? You have said we have got a good story to

tell where we run the council, where we have had this load —— big

increase in membership. Things are going really well, we have a lot of

support in other areas, Ashfield we had a close result in the county

council elections. There are a lot of places in the East Midlands where

there is support. Nick Clegg said last year that Lib Dem voters who

went to the Labour Party are our lost cost? No. I do not believe

that. There are lots of people who are inclined towards the Labour

Party whose supporters because they see as campaigning on local issues.

There are a lot of people who say the main problem is the man at the

top for your party. Nick Clegg read a remarkable performance in the 2010

debate. His ratings are very low. You have got to look at the facts,

Nick Clegg's ratings are lower than Margaret Thatcher 's where before

she left. We are still winning in our constituency where Nick Clegg as

leader. We have a huge amount of support in our area. We are

campaigning and doing well. We have the enterprise zone that is bringing

thousands of jobs. We have a company that is bringing lots of jobs into

our area. The Lib Dems are growing in some areas? They are not growing

in Nottingham North. We are recruiting a lot of people there. I

feel sorry for councillors of all political parties. They suffer from

what the people do at the top level. People cannot vote for who the Prime

Minister is directly, so they take it out in the local councillors. I

think you will find that they will take it out on the Liberal

Democrats. Now one trusts the Liberal Democrats because of Nick

Clegg and the promises he broke in those very debates. It goes back to

that, that's what many people think. We have delivered on the main

policies that we have been involved in. I signed a letter to Nick Clegg

when the votes came in on tuition fees. What about your party,

Jessica? I think we have had is accessible marriage of convenience.

I am going for an overall majority, all mean parties will be seeking

that for the general election. In the key areas of the can make and

welfare reform, where there have been significant improvements in

reforms, there has been agreement by the two parties. —— economy. We will

see separate campaigning by the leaders in the run—up to the general

election. You say you would rather not have another coalition

government? If there is another hung parliament, twice as many of them

would rather be in a coalition government with the Labour Party and

with you lot. I think that it has been, for the national interest, no

one got a majority as we know. Two parties came together to form an

coalition. There will be a natural separation. When will that happen?

We will see natural campaigning, we will hear announcements from the

party leaders. We would want to be an government on our own and put our

own views across. We will be going for the maximum number of seats and

we will fight the election on that. We will campaign for what we believe

in. It will all depend on what the public does. The arithmetic last

time was we could only go into the coalition with the Conservatives. We

may be in agreement with the Conservatives but we have different

priorities. We want tax cuts for the millions, we want that. I want to

break up the happy coalition couple here. Every week in the House of

Commons, I say the Liberal Party and the Conservative party marched

through the lobbies to do things on health service, detrimental things

to schools, to actually start to undermine our country. Then they

come out and say, we are not really friends, we do not really work

together. Yes they do. Night after night when they could fate ——

thought certain things down, they are supporting this government

together and they are both going to take the consequences in the next

election. It has been suggested the best way forward as a party is to

dozens yourself from the Conservatives. —— is to distance

yourself. When do you think it is good to happen? We have different

priorities to the Labour Party in Conservative Party. We have common

to government with them to clean up the mess they Labour Party left. We

believe in low earners and middle income earners into... Thank you

very much. Here is a round—up. Millions of pounds worth of

government funding is up for grabs for East Midlands's businesses.

Companies are being invited to bid for the next round of the regional

growth fund. 16% of shops here are empty, 2% above the national

average. Be careful what you treat for. Gloria did they found she had

as a prize Twitter. She treated this morning that she asked for is the

gestures. The first suggestion came back because I follow these things

very clearly. How happy are you that the leader of the Labour Party will

still be in place come the next election? Why reject that advice and

take advice from the Shadow Chancellor, I cannot think.

You have got to be sober full. Does David Cameron follow you, Graham? I

am sure he is one of my most avid followers. From the last programme I

appeared on, and man treated to say I should not wear red Sox. I have

tweeted today. Do you treat for yourself? I do about 90%. We will

have to leave it there. Thank you deserves a programme all to itself.

In a moment, more from our political Good afternoon. Nick Clegg says

victory for either the Conservatives Good afternoon. Nick Clegg says

or labour at the next election would put at risk the economic recovery

is. Speaking in Glasgow at the Liberal Democrat annual conference,

he said a coalition would allow Liberal Democrat annual conference,

party to balance politics and enable the government to finish the job of

repairing the economy fairly. It is my genuine belief that if we go

repairing the economy fairly. It is coalition and Islands politics,

repairing the economy fairly. It is dominating blood on their own, you

will get a recovery which is neither fair nor sustainable. Labour would

wreck the recovery, and under the fair nor sustainable. Labour would

same commitment to fairness as ours, you would get the wrong kind

Two 19-year-old woman arrested after a stabbing on Thursday have been

released without charge. Police a stabbing on Thursday have been

trying to discover if there is a link between the killing and a fire

four hours later in which four Five people are being questioned in

connection with that blaze. A Syrian government minister has described

the agreement drawn up by America country's chemical weapons as a

The minister claims the deals helps the Syrians out of a crisis and

others war. The US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Israel to

brief the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the proposal. China

and France have also welcomed the deal, which says Syria has until

Friday to submit a competence of list of its chemical stockpile.

Britain's Mo Farah has missed out on winning his first half marathon

Britain's Mo Farah has missed out on He was taking part in the Great

North Run between Newcastle and South Shields. Farrar, who was the

favourite following his two gold Ethiopian's can mean many Serb

favourite following his two gold Kenenisa Bekele in a sprint finish.

A carnival atmosphere for the start was about the challenge. For others,

walking it, so I have no time in simply dressing up for fun. I am

walking it, so I have no time in mind. I just want to enjoy it and

appreciate the crowds and have a fantastic time. For elite athletes,

today's race was about who would be first over the line. Despite the

wind and rain, large crowds turned out for the world's most popular

half marathon, which attracts some of the finest women runners, two,

including the Kenyan. There were high hopes for Britain's double

Olympic champion Mo Farah, but after Shields, he was narrowly beaten

Ethiopian's Kenenisa Bekele. It Shields, he was narrowly beaten

thought I would come back and close the gap slowly. I managed to close

it a little bit, but you can't take away what he has. Wheelchair athlete

David Weir won his race for a fourth time. More than £200 million has

been raised since the Great North That is it for now. There will be

more news on BBC One at 6:35pm. So, did anything happen while we

were away this summer? I thought heading now? Who better to answer

than the best political panel we could cobble together for a tenner?

Putting foreign affairs to one side for a moment, it seems that what

happened mystically was that it became more apparent that some sort

of recovery was underway at last, and that Mr Miliband still has not

yet resonated with the British public. These things are a problem

for Labour. Ed Miliband's mistake over the summer holiday was to take

a summer holiday. And it looked over the summer holiday was to take

the rest of the Labour Party had taken one too. They were not finding

issues they could make their own. The only person who made an impact

was Stella Creasy on online abuse. That is a huge problem, and it is

partly down to the fact that there is this intense message discipline.

They don't want to say anything is this intense message discipline.

of line until they have got all their ducks in a row. It makes the

party do at the moment. The terms of party do at the moment. The terms of

trade have swung in David Cameron's favour, but the political rhetoric

look at this headline from the is still with Mr Miliband. Let's

look at this headline from the Sunday Telegraph. That headline

might not be right, but the story is significant in that Mr Cameron is

still in danger on his right flank significant in that Mr Cameron is

doesn't need an enormous share of the vote to get an overall majority?

Westminster group think. Of course Ed Miliband is in trouble. The

Tories are reserved and. They are better organised, the economy is

recovering. That poses difficulties for Labour, but if you look at what

is happening on the ground, UKIP still pose a danger to Cameron.

is happening on the ground, UKIP don't need to poll 15% in a lot

is happening on the ground, UKIP those marginal seats, they just

is happening on the ground, UKIP to get five or 6% of the vote, and

that could potentially destroy the Tory lead. Lots of commentators

that could potentially destroy the to say, this guy will never be prime

minister, but it is possible that by default or by accident, in a very

Miliband could end up as prime minister. It is still all to play

for on both sides. If UKIP remains a threat to the Tory right flank and

the Tories themselves are not really a national party any more, I am

the Tories themselves are not really they will only target a few seats in

Scotland, they don't get any big seats in the big cities of the north

any more, they don't get the Ulster vote they used to get, so it is

possible that Labour, which is more nationally based and has seats in

the Midlands and the north and in Wales, so they could get in. I

agree. The advantage of having a bad summer is that Ed Miliband can go to

expectations. All he has to do is not dribble on the lectern, and

expectations. All he has to do is will be written up as spectacular.

expectations. All he has to do is He might not even use a lectin.

position. The electoral vagaries of the system work in his favour. He

still has a narrow poll lead, he is not out of the game at all. Of the

three main party leaders, the only one who can be confident about being

three main party leaders, the only in government after 2015 is Nick

electorally. But if it is this bad for Labour at the moment, what will

it be like if this recovery turns out to be real? It depends how much

they succeed. Chuka Umunna was shifting the debate are living

standards. They don't want to keep arguing about who called it right.

Do people feel richer than they arguing about who called it right.

in 2010? The data suggests that people don't feel richer than in

2010. Because they are not.That people don't feel richer than in

the basis on which Labour will fight the next election. It is clear that

Labour are unclear on what to say or do next. They have just got to hope

and pray that the economy is not as soundly based as it appears to be

and that George Osborne is Tony Barber, who thought he fixed the

just before the next crash. There are all sorts of uncertainties

just before the next crash. There China, the bond market, the housing

bubble might be blown up, and Labour just had to hope something goes

wrong for Osborne. Chuka Umunna just had to hope something goes

he would not get rid of help to just had to hope something goes

There are all these criticisms about just had to hope something goes

artificial schemes pumping up house prices, but he would not say that.

It is tortuous. You see this again and again. When asked if Labour

would repeal the bedroom tax, or the same thing with Royal Mail, it

happens again. They will be falling on people who have not had a meal in

coming out of the Labour Party. There is a kind and Gillette in

coming out of the Labour Party. them to a politician's career. When

they are under attack for a long time, the media get bored after

they are under attack for a long while and switch the story. It

happened to Osborne, who had a horrific 2012 and has recovered

bad press as he is getting at the moment, because people find it

tedious. Syria has been the big foreign-policy event this summer. It

has remarkably led to a Soviet- American initiative to get Syria to

give up its chemical weapons. The world will now expect the Assad

regime to live up to its public commitments. As I said at the outset

anything less than full compliance. John Kerry. Is this too good to

anything less than full compliance. true? Even superficially, it is

anything less than full compliance. very good. The only people who

emerge with any sense of triumph are the Russians, who have had their

emerge with any sense of triumph are biggest diplomatic coup. They are

back on the stage again. B if you want to know why Putin even has

back on the stage again. B if you because of moments like this. They

were humiliated after the end of the Cold War, and a Nou Camp is a great

power again. Then you have the Obama situation, because he has ended

power again. Then you have the Obama where he wanted to end up. He has

power again. Then you have the Obama concession from Syria, but the way

he got there was so embarrassing. It concession from Syria, but the way

made him look weak and erratic as a leader. There were contradictions

between himself and his Secretary of State last week, and it has not

between himself and his Secretary of him any good. I was in the States,

and it was open season on him. I have never understood the idea of

chemical weapons as a red line when you can massacre people in their

thousands through other means. But chemical weapons are beyond the

pale. The rebels are miserable. chemical weapons are beyond the

have run out of time. I will have to ask you what you think about Syria

next week, which gives you time ask you what you think about Syria

prepare. Your book on Fred the shred is going well? It is.I am back

tomorrow at noon with the Daily Politics at noon on BBC Two, where

we will have more from the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow.

we will have more from the Liberal is the start of our Daily Politics

conference coverage. Next week, is the start of our Daily Politics

will be back here at our normal is the start of our Daily Politics

of 11am, when we will be joined is the start of our Daily Politics

Grant Shapps. Remember, if it is Sunday, it is the Sunday Politics.