0:01:25 > 0:01:32Here in the east, and a happy New Year for families, and that the big
0:01:32 > 0:01:42society steps in to save you services provided by councils. --
0:01:42 > 0:01:42
0:01:42 > 0:29:47Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1685 seconds
0:29:47 > 0:29:57Welcome to the first Sunday politics from the east. This week -
0:29:57 > 0:30:05some people still able to get together, but with churches and
0:30:05 > 0:30:12charities. Families are left stranded in their own homes.
0:30:12 > 0:30:22thought every step of the way not to put my child into care. First
0:30:22 > 0:30:30
0:30:30 > 0:30:38let's make this week's guests, Kelvin Hopkins and Brooks Newmark.
0:30:38 > 0:30:45Are you a fan of High Speed Two? need a dedicated rail service to
0:30:45 > 0:30:54get traffic off the roads, and to link us more effectively with the
0:30:54 > 0:31:00Continent. �17 billion is a lot to pay? It tears, but every �1 put in
0:31:00 > 0:31:05there is to pound returned. -- �2 return. It will double capacity, it
0:31:05 > 0:31:14is a good deal for the tax payer. Is it important that we get about
0:31:14 > 0:31:19faster than before? We have to travel, I commute from Luton to
0:31:19 > 0:31:29London, I know the trains are crowded. I think we want to get
0:31:29 > 0:31:30
0:31:30 > 0:31:35people out of their cars. Back to both in a moment. -- back to.
0:31:35 > 0:31:43The government calls it the biggest welfare shake-up in the last 60
0:31:43 > 0:31:53years, living allowances or replace council social care. The Welfare
0:31:53 > 0:31:53
0:31:53 > 0:32:03Reform Bill suffered defeats in the House of Lords, this mother of a
0:32:03 > 0:32:08
0:32:08 > 0:32:12severely autistic boy have recently been me -- recently been reassessed.
0:32:12 > 0:32:22The reassessment means he has become a prisoner in his own home.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25
0:32:25 > 0:32:33We don't have a family. The only time we get is when he's at school.
0:32:33 > 0:32:43We don't go out as a family, are less I have a our person would need
0:32:43 > 0:32:43
0:32:43 > 0:32:50to taking out. -- unless I have another person to help me. He
0:32:50 > 0:32:55doesn't walk very far, there has to be two a bus with him. Every
0:32:55 > 0:33:02Christmas he has been asking to go out to the cinema, things he enjoys
0:33:02 > 0:33:12doing, and I haven't been able to take him. I can't afford the petrol.
0:33:12 > 0:33:13
0:33:13 > 0:33:23We don't have any other options. This is our life now. If you could
0:33:23 > 0:33:30
0:33:30 > 0:33:40ask the government to change things, what would you be asking for?
0:33:40 > 0:33:41
0:33:41 > 0:33:45us to have a life, without having to beg every step of the way. We
0:33:45 > 0:33:53have to fight and bake for everything that we are given. To be
0:33:53 > 0:34:00treated with respect as the human beings that we are. I am sorry, it
0:34:00 > 0:34:10has been so hard. My son did not choose to be disabled, and I have
0:34:10 > 0:34:11
0:34:12 > 0:34:20fought every step of the way to bring him up in a normal family.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22Brooks Newmark, Liam Byrne, the shadow Secretary of State for
0:34:22 > 0:34:30contentions says the government has crossed the line of decency when it
0:34:30 > 0:34:39comes to the Welfare Reform Bill. It is Liam Byrne who said that
0:34:39 > 0:34:48times are tied. Under the old system, it was not seen as fair or
0:34:48 > 0:34:57targeted to the most vulnerable. The new system, it is a more
0:34:58 > 0:35:03focused on the most vulnerable, it says see -- it is seen as fair. It
0:35:03 > 0:35:08is focused on getting people back to work. What is fair that putting
0:35:09 > 0:35:14families under more pressure? cannot comment on that individual
0:35:14 > 0:35:24family. It is a moving story, and I can't comment on the specifics.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26
0:35:26 > 0:35:33What I can say is that the focus on the new programme is to focus on
0:35:33 > 0:35:38the most vulnerable. By Reynard does look like they are vulnerable
0:35:38 > 0:35:44child -- he does look like a bundle child, under the old system there
0:35:44 > 0:35:49was millions wasted, it has been a waste of a lifetime. Individuals
0:35:49 > 0:35:54changed over a lifetime, and this pavement at made sure that people
0:35:54 > 0:36:04are assessed every year, and make sure they get the right payment.
0:36:04 > 0:36:06
0:36:06 > 0:36:14Kelvin Hopkins, the end of sick note Britain began under Gordon
0:36:14 > 0:36:19Brown, this is hypocritical isn't it? I am wholly opposed to these
0:36:19 > 0:36:26cuts, I think they are squeezing the most vulnerable, to alleviate
0:36:27 > 0:36:31the problems of the rich. The rich are getting away with tax avoidance
0:36:31 > 0:36:41to the tune of �120 billion a year, to collect just a fraction of that
0:36:41 > 0:36:43
0:36:43 > 0:36:52would solve this problem. Surely there should not be a target of how
0:36:52 > 0:36:56much cuts there should be? It should be based on needs. It should
0:36:56 > 0:37:00do. But we have a problem in this country, we were living way beyond
0:37:00 > 0:37:07our means, therefore all departments have to share the
0:37:07 > 0:37:13burden of the cuts. With respect to the disability living allowance,
0:37:13 > 0:37:21that was seen as be wasteful, unfair and not particularly well
0:37:21 > 0:37:28targeted. We hope, not withstanding the 20% cuts, that what will be
0:37:28 > 0:37:38delivered will be that the most honourable will be protected -- the
0:37:38 > 0:37:39
0:37:39 > 0:37:45most available will be protected. think we should cut Trident. The
0:37:45 > 0:37:48reality is we are not collecting in the tax. If we collected that these
0:37:48 > 0:37:55problems would go away, and we could make sure that vulnerable
0:37:55 > 0:38:01people would be looked after. We been here comes the time that
0:38:01 > 0:38:06the council start to set to their new budgets, and make tough
0:38:06 > 0:38:14decisions. Last year the biggest casualty was the provision of youth
0:38:14 > 0:38:21services. Almost the entire budget was slashed. The good news is that
0:38:21 > 0:38:28the big society has stepped in, but for how long?
0:38:28 > 0:38:33It is Friday night at this youth centre in King's Lynn. Around 60
0:38:33 > 0:38:38youngsters are head, some are disabled, and some are young carers.
0:38:38 > 0:38:44Others are just kids who want to be with their friends. I have lots of
0:38:44 > 0:38:52friends here, I can enjoy myself. What would you be doing if you
0:38:52 > 0:38:57weren't here? To be honest, I have no idea. I would probably be sat at
0:38:57 > 0:39:02home. Quite bored. We filmed here last year, when it was about to
0:39:02 > 0:39:08close, targeted by council cuts. There were fears that this, and
0:39:08 > 0:39:14other youth groups in Norfolk would never open again. I would do
0:39:14 > 0:39:19anything to keep it open. One year on, it is still open, just one day
0:39:19 > 0:39:24a week, it is run by volunteers, parents and former members of staff.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28It is the best we can do with what we have got at the moment.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32council has let them have the building a rent-free for a year. It
0:39:32 > 0:39:42has given them a grant to get started. They do lots of fund-
0:39:42 > 0:39:43
0:39:43 > 0:39:48raising. We are led a hand-to-mouth. -- we are living hand-to-mouth.
0:39:48 > 0:39:53inspires you to keep coming, to keep it going on, to do what you
0:39:53 > 0:40:03can to help. With a few exceptions, most of the youth activities in
0:40:03 > 0:40:05
0:40:05 > 0:40:12North a car still being run -- in Norfolk are still being run. The
0:40:12 > 0:40:17diocese of Norfolk is now one of the biggest providers. His youth
0:40:17 > 0:40:21provision better or worse? You know, strangely, I think it is better.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26What has happened is that with all the publicity around the cuts,
0:40:26 > 0:40:32there are more local communities saying that they want to have
0:40:32 > 0:40:39provision in their village, and they want to something about it. In
0:40:39 > 0:40:47that respect something around the big society is working, but can
0:40:47 > 0:40:57only be sustained with money. It is really exciting times for the
0:40:57 > 0:41:00
0:41:00 > 0:41:09provision in Norfolk. What if they run out of money, or people whose
0:41:09 > 0:41:12interest -- lose interest? I think it will flourish. We still have a
0:41:12 > 0:41:18professional service, that was established over many years, it
0:41:18 > 0:41:25went overnight. To expect any group to come in and fill that vacuum
0:41:25 > 0:41:32with no lead-in time it was always unrealistic. Do you worry about the
0:41:32 > 0:41:40future, how long you can keep going? I am confident that we have
0:41:40 > 0:41:50a enough gumption to keep it going. We are worried, because there is
0:41:50 > 0:41:56
0:41:56 > 0:42:02only so much money in people's pots. Joining the is the man from Norwich
0:42:02 > 0:42:07council to approve the cuts. have a massive financial challenge,
0:42:07 > 0:42:12we have to make hard choices. We concentrated on front line services,
0:42:12 > 0:42:17helping the most them vulnerable, we would like to keep certain
0:42:17 > 0:42:22things going, but we had to redesign the youth service. I youth
0:42:22 > 0:42:26services a luxury? Not to the people that use them. We wanted to
0:42:26 > 0:42:33engage the local committee, your programme shows this has been
0:42:33 > 0:42:39successful. There is a lot of enthusiasm, I am so pleased that
0:42:39 > 0:42:49the diocese of Norwich has been destructive. We have set up in
0:42:49 > 0:42:54
0:42:54 > 0:43:04Norfolk community fund -- set up. We have done our part. We are
0:43:04 > 0:43:04
0:43:04 > 0:43:10trying to help local communities to help meet their own local needs.
0:43:10 > 0:43:16we saw, people want continuity, that is what young people need,
0:43:16 > 0:43:26having a service run by volunteers is not the same as professionals
0:43:26 > 0:43:28
0:43:28 > 0:43:34doing it on a regular basis. someone said on your piece, the
0:43:34 > 0:43:38service operated there now is better than it was before. I know
0:43:38 > 0:43:43that area, the work but they are doing is continuing what was done
0:43:43 > 0:43:51in the past, but in a voluntary capacity. We seem to have got it
0:43:51 > 0:44:01right in Norfolk. What is going to happen in the long term? What we
0:44:01 > 0:44:01
0:44:01 > 0:44:06say is that we want to see community's takeover, with some
0:44:06 > 0:44:16help from ourselves. What you make about what to have heard? I'm very
0:44:16 > 0:44:22sceptical. I spoke against these cuts in the Commons. Even the
0:44:22 > 0:44:32Government's own research suggests that the absence of youth services
0:44:32 > 0:44:33
0:44:33 > 0:44:40was a picture Ritchie factor to be a riots last year. -- was a
0:44:40 > 0:44:45contributory factor. We need the services run by professionals, to
0:44:45 > 0:44:51make sure youngsters are not on the streets and doing constructive
0:44:51 > 0:44:58things. I'm interested to note that he doesn't think we have poverty in
0:44:58 > 0:45:08Norfolk. Some of the most socially deprived areas are in King's Lynn
0:45:08 > 0:45:08
0:45:08 > 0:45:14and Great Yarmouth. We are showing that the big society can work.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18I saw you nodding their, presumably you agree? I think that what
0:45:18 > 0:45:24Norbert has shown is that you can have a big society, and the balance
0:45:24 > 0:45:34the books. Does that mean you are giving the young people what they
0:45:34 > 0:45:36
0:45:36 > 0:45:45need? As he showed yourself, they are all positive. Fantastic. One
0:45:45 > 0:45:48night a week, but it used to happen if three or four nights a week.
0:45:48 > 0:45:52voluntary sector is taking a bigger role. The government should not be
0:45:52 > 0:45:56doing what the voluntary side should be doing, and has
0:45:56 > 0:45:59traditionally done. What has happened historically in recent
0:45:59 > 0:46:03years is that the government has gone in and given more and more
0:46:03 > 0:46:10money. The reality is that most people in their local community are
0:46:10 > 0:46:17actually want to get engaged with young people, and they are getting
0:46:17 > 0:46:27engaged. I want to ask Derek Murphy one more question. What is this
0:46:27 > 0:46:28
0:46:28 > 0:46:35giving to young people? messages that councils are coming
0:46:35 > 0:46:43in to help, rent free, Right to Buy, a very positive role of people who
0:46:43 > 0:46:53want to deliver the big society. will have to leave it there.
0:46:53 > 0:46:54
0:46:54 > 0:47:03I have to stop there. This is our new one minute weekly political
0:47:03 > 0:47:09round-up. It is not a New Year fitness regime
0:47:09 > 0:47:17for Eric Pickles, he was inspecting the Olympic mountain biking site in
0:47:18 > 0:47:22Essex. Is he a ban? This is my first time. I could tell you it is
0:47:22 > 0:47:31my life ambition to see it, but that would not be true. Sir Richard
0:47:31 > 0:47:35Branson is keen to improve banking, he told staff in Norwich.
0:47:35 > 0:47:44banking industry has been discredited, it almost brought the
0:47:44 > 0:47:54world to its knees. There are 300 jobs at risk at this printing firm,
0:47:54 > 0:47:55
0:47:56 > 0:48:01prompting the local MP to ask for help. In case you are wondering,
0:48:01 > 0:48:09heres the Olympic sport that sets Eric Pickles heart racing. I love
0:48:09 > 0:48:16showjumping. Does showjumping do-able you?
0:48:16 > 0:48:26love all sports. I would watch it on television. I have a wide range
0:48:26 > 0:48:30of interests in sports. My major interests is probably music. -- my
0:48:30 > 0:48:37major interest. How much as the Olympics mean the business in this
0:48:37 > 0:48:45county? I think it means something, it brings people into the county.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48More importantly, it is inspiration to young people. The county has
0:48:48 > 0:48:54taken at the Olympics very seriously, they have put a lot of
0:48:54 > 0:49:04time and money into making sure it is their success. There is a torch-
0:49:04 > 0:49:04
0:49:04 > 0:49:12bearer from a Braintree. The big benefits, what will they be?
0:49:12 > 0:49:16think the big benefits will be the airport. I'm pleased to say that