05/02/2012 Sunday Politics London

Good morning folks. Stop flowing snowballs for a second and

concentrate, please, on this week's Sunday Politics. Nick Clegg has

lost another Cabinet Minister. On Friday, his latest poll ratings are

in single figures. A third of flights at Heathrow

today are cancelled and that was before it started snowing! Why?

Transport Secretary, Justine Greening is here for the Sunday

interview. With the Government about to consult on gay marriage,

an MP and a member of the Church of England's General Synod go Head to

Head. And our regular panel of the best

and the brightest political minds are back tweeting throughout the

programme ready to analyse British politics in The Week Ahead.

In London this week, who is suitable to run a free school? We

look at what Tottenham Hotspur plants to do now it is staying put

and redeveloping its North London All that coming up in the next hour.

But first the news. Thank you.

Herself Heavy snow swept across much of England overnight. Heathrow

is cancelling over 350 flights during the day and other airports

are warning of delays. Motorists have been stranded on the M40 and

M25 motorways and some some rail services have been disrupted.

Keith Royal reports. Here at Heathrow Airport, they took

action yesterday by cancelling a third of today's flights. That was

intended to ease pressure and reduce delays today. Despite the

snow ploughs being out, there are delays and cancellations. Freezing

fog has added to the problems at Heathrow. So passengers who may

well have been disrupted because of the snow could well face face

further delays. The advice is to check before leaving for the

airport. On the roads, heavy snow falls and

freezing temperatures have caused disruption in many parts of the

country. Here on the A 14, driving conditions are described as

hazardous with icy roads and slow moving traffic. In parts of the

country, many drivers were forced to spend the night trapped in their

vehicles. We were Half-way up this road,

slipping all over the place, it was starting to get too dangerous, as

soon as we saw the petrol station, we pulled in. As we get sleeping

stuff to rest up for the night thinking it might be easier. But

getting up this morning, we are having to dig our way out.

The hay ways agency says it is managing to keep most main routes

open, but urged motorists who venture out to take care.

There are some delays on rail services. The worst of the snow is

moving eastwards with freezing temperatures and icy conditions

making travel difficult. The advice is slow down or stay at home.

Diplomats at the United Nations are planning attempt to win approval to

win res resolution against the Syrian Government. The regime's

troops and tanks are reported to be tightening their grip on the city

of Homs where 50 people are reported to have died.

Mitt Romney has won the latest stage of the contest to be the

Republican candidate in the US Presidential election. He is He has

taken lead in Nevada. Newt Gingrich has vowed to fight on.

More than 100 Conservative MPs have written to the Prime Minister

calling on him to slash subsidies for onshore wind turbines. The MPs

want planning rules changed to make it easier for local people to

object to their construction. That's it. More news here on BBC

How much worse can it get for the Lib Dems? Chris Huhne left the

Cabinet this week in extraordinary circumstances. Nick Clegg will open

the papers this week to read one opinion poll giving him less than

10% of the vote if an election was held tomorrow. The the MP, injury

Jeremy Browne joins me now. How certificate has Chris Huhne --

serious has Chris Huhne leaving, damaged your party? Chris is an

extremely high calibre, assertive, but talented politician and that

was recognised by Conservatives as well as Liberal Democrats, but we

are where we are. Ed Davey, his replacement, is acknowledged to be

a competent and high calibre politician and I think he will do

well in his new position. But you have lost two of your five

Cabinet Ministers in less than two years, doesn't that undermine your

credibility? I heard you talk about our opinion poll rating. You have

got to remember, of course, three days before the last general

election our opinion poll rating was wrong. So we are three years

away from the next general election, what people want the Liberal

Democrats to to do is concentrate what is best for Britain, not

concentrate on what is in the interests of the Liberal Democrats.

We are doing the right things in Government. We have a really

difficult economic inheritance from Labour that we are working with the

Conservatives to sort out. And what is interesting in the opinion polls

is the most popular policies that the Government is putting into

effect, cutting income tax for people on lower middle incomes, a

better deal for pensioners, those policies are largely due to the

Liberal Democrats involvement in the Government. So I think in the

longer term people will want to give us credit for doing the right

thing for Britain and will recognise what we are bringing to

Government. If that is the case, can you

explain why since the election the Tories have risen in the polls and

your ratings have slumped to single figure as soon as. Well, there are

two points there. One is do you want politicians who spend their

life looking at their own self interest and trying to get the best

poll rating or do you want politicians who work with others in

the national interest to get Britain back on its feet again? The

Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing. And it is true that we

were in Opposition for decades and I think people got used to the

Liberal Democrats being an opposition party, thinking like an

opposition party, and it is taking time for people to adjust to us

being a party of Government. But here is the point - our aspiration

shouldn't be to be a more effective opposition party than the Labour

Party. Our ambition should to be a more effective governing party than

the Conservatives and we are bringing to the Government ideas

like lifting people out of income tax, putting more money into the

pockets of millions of people right around the country, thang would

other -- than would have been the case. When people look at their pay

slips or the ballot paper come the general election will acknowledge

that the Liberal Democrats have done the right thing for Britain,

by entering into a coalition Government at a time of great,

great economic economic difficulty for our country and they will think

more of the Liberal Democrats as a result.

Well, it isn't showing in your poll ratings. You held an away day on

Friday to work out how to restore your fortunes. What did you learn

from the man dresd as -- dressed as a bumblebee? Stephen Lloyd who is

doing a a fantastic job in Eastbourne was talk being the

Eastbourne Buzz. The mascot was a bumblebee.

You are not going to fight as a bumblebee? No, we won Eastbourne at

the last general election from the the Conservatives as it happens, so

it is I will strative of the -- ill strative of the Liberal Democrats

to be a successful party. We are putting into effect our ideas. I

will give you an example. Actually, don't because we have run

out of time. Your Foreign Office minister and I want to ask a

serious question, not about bumblebees. We are sending a �1

billion destroyer to the Falklands. Now a nuclear sub is going too. We

must think there is a chance of Argentinian military action,

minister? Well, we are always prepared for every every every

eventuality. Do we fear military action? Well, we are always

prepared for every eventuality. This is the situation, Argentina is

a big powerful country. It is a member of the G20, it has a

population of 40 million people. The Falklands only has a population

of 2,500, but we are determined that they should be able to decide

their own future. And we are determined to uphold the principle

of self-determination. Now, unemployment is up. Growth is

flat lining, Vince Cable says we are in the midst of the economic

equivalent of war. So if you were a Treasury Minister taking over the

Department of Transport, you would want to have a look to see if its

policies are the right ones to get us and the British economy moving.

That minister is Justine Greening and until last October, she was

economics secretary and she is now Secretary of State for Transport.

This is what she found in her in- We have got the world's busiest

International Airport, but Heathrow is operating at almost full

capacity. And the Tories are sticking to their pledge not to

allow a third runway. China is opening 97 new airports in the next

ten years. And our European neighbours look like being their

trading partners of choice. Boris thinks a new airport in the Thames

is the only solution and he says ministers are increasingly

interested in his idea. Back on the ground, rail passengers

are being squeezed. Some were hit with New Year fare increases as

high as 11%. And they won't have been amused to hear this week that

the Chief Executive of Network Rail could be in line for a bonus of up

In her first big television interview, Justine Greening is this

Justine Greening, are you content that Heathrow cancelled a third of

flights today before a flake of snow had fall snn. -- fall snn. We

have asked Heathrow to get better prepared for for situations like

today where we see snow falling overnight. Cancelling flights in

advance, was one of the main main recommendations of the inquiry that

Heathrow held into the debacle last year. They are trying to manage the

airport and the most important thing is making sure that we put

safety first. We got to get planes up into the air and down on to the

ground safely. That does take more time to make sure wings are de-iced

and the runways are clear. Our European airports have not

cancelled a third of their flights? Both runways are are open. Part of

the disruption is some flights didn't get away as planned last

night. They have had to takeoff today. But we are not seeing the

levels of disruption at the moment that we saw last year.

They have cancelled a third of the flights, minister? Many of the

passengers are able to book on to other flights leaving today. Sunday

is a quiet day tor the airlines -- for the airlines. Hopefully we have

managed disruption and Heathrow will continue to to learn how to

cope with these situations. Many people won't see an

improvement on 2010. You are content, you are happy with the way

it has been handled? I think Heathrow put into action this

winter resilience plan for the first time working with the

airports and air traffic control, it was a owe ordernated effort and

decision they took to cancel flights in advance so we didn't

have passengers turning up and and finding their flights were

cancelled so I think that was the right approach to take.

One of the reasons they have had to cancel so many flights because they

are already operating at capacity. Let's look at what the

Conservatives said before the election. This is in your manifesto

"we will stop a third runway and link Heathrow directly to our high-

speed rail network, providing an alternative to to thousands of

flight." During the election debates, Greg Clarke said, "We have

no plans to build anymore runways in the south-east." You have gone

back on the extension to Heathrow, that is not happening in phase one.

Is it still your policy to build no one no runways in the South East?

We will see direct rail rail link to Heathrow. We have Heathrow

Express linking... It won't happen in my lifetime then? I hope you

survive longer than that, Andrew. That's 20 years away.

I am sure you will be around. You are right to flag up this longer

term question of capacity and it is about connectivity and making sure

our international hub airport can be connected to the right places in

the future and we have said that we want to look carefully at that.

There aren't any plans, it has been clear that we ruled out a third

runway at Heathrow. Is it your policy to build no more

runways in the south-east? We said we will not support runways at

Stansted or Gatwick or a third runway at Heathrow.

Is it your policy to build no more runways in the South East? We have

not said the South East because of course, as you have seen... You did

in the general election, "We have got no plans to build anymore runs

runways in the South East?". are quoting Greg Clarke rather than

what was in our manifesto. We went into the election fighting against

a third runway at Heathrow, but no second runway at Stansted and no

extra runway at Gatwick. What we are seeing saying, it is time --

saying, it is time to say what do You said there wouldn't be any more

runways in the south-east, now you are not saying that. What

politicians say during election campaigns, does that no longer

matter? It does. But we've got to acknowledge the fact we are in a

coalition government. The Lib Dem policy is not to build any runways

in the south-east, they are not doing anything different. I think

you aren't -- tying our entire policy based on one quote. The

policy we went into the last election was very clear-cut about

specific runways at specific airports. We haven't ruled them out

completely in the south-east. always used to think that Heathrow

had the greatest connections to everywhere in the world, but here

are the figures for annual flights from China, including some of its

big provincial cities. Germany is way ahead, France next, the

Netherlands third and Britain a poor fourth. We know that trade

follows direct flights. What are you going to do about this? It's

one of the reasons we will be launching our draft strategy on

aviation in March. It will look at how we can tackle these problems.

It is fair to acknowledge that airports like Gatwick are now

competing with Heathrow. That is at 95 % capacity. Not through the

whole day. They are having new flights to places like Vietnam and

Korea. It's not a hub airport. not, which is why it's right to

take a longer term look at some of these challenges on connectivity.

Isn't it fact that you were the MP for But the, on the Heathrow

flightpath. You are hopelessly compromised when it comes to runway

capacity. I don't agree with that. If you ruled out to every MP who

has a transport interest in their constituency from being in my job,

I don't think there to be any of us left. Boris Johnson said last month

that the government was, code, increasingly interested in the idea

of a new hub airport. Are you increasingly idea -- increasingly

interested? I think the change that is happening is possibly more of a

willingness to look longer term. And to acknowledge that this

question of how we make sure our key international hub airport can

be fit to serve this country, not just over the next 10 years but

more in the long term, I think we've acknowledged that is a real

issue, that we shouldn't ignore it and we should look at how we can

address that. Let's get onto the Network Rail bosses. They are in

line for big bonuses as part of this proposed new bonus scheme.

What are you going to do about that? I'm going to go to the

meeting next Friday and vote against them. I don't think this is

the right time to have those sorts of decisions taken. I'm about to

launch by rail strategy for the long term, which will have some

serious recommendations about how we can see the industry taking more

cost out of the railway, so that it is more efficient, we don't have to

keep loading extra money and passengers. So you will go to this

board meeting of network while coming up on Friday of this week,

and as a special member you will stop this bonus scheme going

through? I won't be able to stop it going through. The structure that

the last government set-up means I can go and vote against it. The

problem we've got is that won't necessarily change the result. The

other problem we've got it is the members can vote against the bonus

package but, at the end of the day, there vote was only advisory. It's

one of the reasons why the rail strategy I'm going to be announcing

will have some proposals and their to improve the governance. Are you

sure you haven't got the powers if you go in and vote against it on

Friday? I have got the power to vote against it, but you asked me

if I could vote against it and stop it. Is it conceivable that Network

Rail would ignore the vote of the Secretary of State for Transport?

It is possible. The way in which the governance of Network Rail was

set up under the last government simply doesn't allow me to go there

and the veto it. But I can go land register on behalf of the taxpayer

that people think this is the wrong bowlers from work at the wrong time.

But if they ignore you, can't you just buy them? I don't think I'm in

a position to fire them. Network Rail as a private company. The

problem we've got is the members, who are Network Rail's version of

shareholders, don't have enough power to hold their board to

account. That is what I want to address in the paper coming out.

will be an interesting meeting on Friday. Your predecessor in your

job, Philip Hammond, said you were going to end Labour's war on the

motorist. Are you pro-car? I've got a car like many people, so I want

to make cars affordable. We need to make sure we put investment into

our road system, so that we've got an awful lot of money going in to

tackle congestion. It also means making sure that motoring is

affordable on a day-to-day basis, which is why it last week I

announced an initiative to make sure that people can get better

quality and better value from when they take their car to a garage and

get it serviced and the AA -- MOT. I'm also thinking of taking some

action on cracking down on over the top insurance premiums. Philip

Hammond wanted to raise the speed limit to 80 mph, do you?

looking at the best way to approach the speed limit. It is clear to us,

the public, that he did want to do it. What is your own view? My view

is the most important thing I'm concerned about is keeping the

traffic flowing. A lot of people would like to travel at 70 mph on

our motorways but can't. It may well be that on some stretches when

it is safe, we should up the limit to 80 mph. But the key objective

I'm looking at is, what do we need to do to make sure our motorways

are keep moving? Am going to be talking with hauliers to find out

face-to-face about what their challenges of. Digital must be as

interesting as a visit to net while -- it should almost be as

interesting as your visit to Network Rail. Are you happy with

the way the roads have coped with the snow? We put an awful lot of

gritting and salt down. We are now winning recovery phase around the

accidents that have happened. People who are travelling, think

about whether your journey is necessary. If it is, make sure you

are prepared. Take warm clothes, make sure you know your route.

Because most journeys usually start and end on local roads, make sure

you have a shovel in the back. week, the Church of England's

General Synod will meet in London. An issue that divides them is gay

marriage. So far, the Senedd and has banned partnership ceremonies

in religious buildings. But now 100 priests have signed a letter

demanding the right to conduct them in their churches. Last year the

government ended a ban on the use for gay civil ceremonies and are

looking at how to move that further The creation of Sybil partnerships

in 2005 was, for some, the icing of the cake in changes in societal

attitudes to homosexuality. What was illegal in the 1960s is now

protected by law with a ceremony that recognises same-sex union. It

is just not officially a marriage. Even though it was a civil

partnership, I don't think any of our friends or ourselves saw it as

anything other than a wedding. We had a wedding cake, we did all the

things you normally do in a wedding. To us, it was definitely a marriage.

It turns out that couple and cake makers, Gerhardt and Paul, personal

attitude is the essential building block for the campaign for gay

marriage. In practical terms, there are now almost no differences

between civil partnership and marriage. We fought hard to ensure

that. The issue for some people, however, is that it's massively

symbolic that they are still not allowed to call their registered

union by exactly the same name as everyone else. In the past five

months it has become illegal to have a civil partnership ceremony

in a religious building. But most churches have yet to decide to

offer that to couples. Meanwhile, the government wants to push the

issue much further and is committed to gay marriage as an option by the

next election. Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and

we support each other. So I don't support gay marriage in spite of

being a Conservative, I support gay marriage because I am a

Conservative. With such political will at work, it's quite hard to

see where the row might be. But it's about the definition of one

word. Marriage. And that, according to the Archbishop of York recently,

is exclusively between a man and a woman. And that David Cameron would

be acting like a dictator if he forced through any plans to change

that. There is opposition in the Lords, and they Rob press rumours

of up to 100 Tory MPs who might vote against any plans for a

marriage. I think there will be some people within the party to

have deeply held religious views that will not be supportive of that

and that is fine, I respect that. But I think the party is a

different party and I think the majority will support it. This

seems to be about who has the right to choose. Gay couples to be

married or religious bodies to say no? Supporters of gay marriage

expect the government to side with them. Opponents are asking, will

the courts or even the Human Rights Act be used to force them into

something they may theologically Joining us now for opinion is a

senior member of the Church of England Synod and the Liberal

Democrat spokesman on home affairs, Philip Giddings, if the law already

allows civil partnerships in a religious building, while we are

arguing against one word? Because the heart of the matter is what

that word means. Whatever Parliament or the government says,

the square doesn't become a circle just because you pass a law saying

it. Marriage is a social institution which has developed

over many centuries and many generations, not just in our

society but elsewhere. It has always been understood to be a

relationship between a man and a woman for life. In the civil

partnerships Act we have already made provision for same-sex couples

to register their partnership, and they are under no legal disability

and our legal system at the moment because of that. So what is being

asked for? The point is marriage, the tradition of marriage, a man

and a woman, that's why he doesn't want to change it. What the

governments are going to be consulting on next month is equal

marriage, but that his civil marriage. Same-sex civil marriage.

We are clearly not going to be consulting on religious marriage.

What would be allowed if we go forward, if the consultation Leeds

to moving forward on the issue of gay marriage, his allow people to

have a registry office marriage or use a premises that are licensed to

have a civil marriage. You would like them to be married in church,

too, wouldn't you? That's not a decision for me, it's a decision

for faith communities. You'd describe people who oppose gay

marriage in churches as dinosaurs. That's a decision for them. My

personal view is the expression of commitment that is made in gay

marriages is one that I would like the Church to recognise, but

clearly that is a decision for them. How does it feel to be a dinosaur?

I'm not quite sure what the definition of a dinosaur is! He is

implying you are way out of date. Out of date is an interesting

concept. There is an eternal provision, aside as a believer

would say. I'm perfectly willing to stand on that ground. I think civil

partnership, as presently constituted, personally I would

prefer to be extended but that is another debate, I think civil

partnership provides all the legal equality that is sought and our

general commitment to equality. Most people think that civil

weddings and civil partnerships are pretty much the same thing, married

in all but name. Would it make any difference? Yes, because they are

not the same Bo Storm marriages between a man and a woman. I think

most people understand that. say it's up to the church, but if

this law comes in, but human rights legislation and the European Court

in Strasbourg, that is bound to get involved at some stage and the

Church could be forced to do something it doesn't want to do.

disagree. The legislation can and would make it very clear that under

the Human Rights Act and the European Court of Human Rights,

that it would simply not be possible to bring a case against

the church which had chosen not to allow a marriage, a same-sex

marriage to take place. What we are talking about his civil marriage.

We are not talking about church has been forced to allow same-sex

marriages. Would you like to withdraw the word dinosaur? Were

you quoting me? Yes. It is a challenge for the churches. I think

the churches have to move with the times. It is something that I hope

they will seriously consider. churches are moving with the Times,

some denominations are going to allow gay marriages in their houses

of religion. Isn't the Church of England, which is already in some

trouble in terms of its membership, going to be out of date and left

behind? No. Like any voluntary association, particularly a church,

it has its dog run, its teaching, and that is the ground on which we

stand. Most churches will take the same position as the Church of

England on this matter because of the long-standing, not just

Christian churches, on the understanding of what marriage is.

Most opinion... Being out of date is not an issue. But most people

historically always regarded marriage as between a man and woman.

But that public consensus has changed. An opinion poll suggests...

It suggests otherwise. People don't feel so concerned about a same-sex

couple getting together, good luck to them. The question is one

weather that describes that as marriage. I entirely accept...

There is an important point. The churches do have to make a better

case about what marriage is. And while it is best... What I'd like

to hear from the Synod is whether objective to civil marriages what

they are doing. That is all we are talking about, not a religious

marriage. There we go. We will have It is approaching 11.30am. You are

You are watching the Sunday Politics. I will be looking at The

Week Ahead. Before that, the Sunday Politics

Hello. In the capital this week, football clubs are among the

institutions being invited to set- up and run new schools. We look at

whether Tottenham Hotspur is going to owe oblige.

-- oblige. Here with us Richard Ottaway, among

whose priorities is chairing the all party Parliamentary group on

the limb pigs and Diane Abbott -- Olympics and Diane Abbott and of

course, a a Shadow Health Minister. Let's kick off with council tax and

Boris Johnson's decision to reduce his share of the council tax by 1%

which means the average household will be �3.10 better off. Richard

Ottaway, have you had enough time to think about how you are going to

spend this windfall? This is a defining moment in the mayoral

election. Under eight years of Ken, we had 150% rise in the council tax

and here here Boris is producing a 16% cut over his term of office and

that adds up and it is a stark contrast between the two candidates.

Diane Abbott, what are you going to spend the money on? This is

desperate stuff. Ken is gaining on Boris. He did very well withist

fares campaign. This is a desperate bid by Boris. I think Ken is

gaining on him. Londoners are realising this is hard times. You

want a serious man, you want Ken and not Boris.

A man we spoke to in the street this week said it didn't seem like

the paperwork. She would say that if she had 150%

increase in council tax. This is a kich principle. We want --

Conservative Party principle. Boris marked it out clearly and I think

it is well worth the effort. Yeah, London is not basically a

Conservative town so tarting policies on Conservative principles

will not help you. A teenager in Edmonton has become

the first person in the UK to be jailed for breaching a gang

Unlike ASBOs, aimed at stopping anti-social behaviours, gangbos are

designed to stop young people have engaging in gang activity. The

injunction stopped Dylan Martin from numerous actions including

contacting gang members, wearing gang delurs and using the --

colours and using the internet for inciting gang violence. In Edmonton,

police are confident that these injunctions will have an impact.

It is not just a legislation to divert them away and a bit of a

toothless tiger. It will show that the legislation to put them in

prison. Dylan Martin this week start add 15 month jail sentence,

but could be out in half that way. Enfield Council's member is Ayfer

Orhan. How many gang injunction have you taken out on young people?

Well, this is the first in the country and we are committed to

fight crime and gang related gang in Enfield. In the country it is

the first... It was the breach of the injunction? And this young man

breached it again the second time and found guilty in court and went

to prison sadly and... dissimilar is this to ASBO and

ASBOs. Was Enfield a council that took out lots of ASBOs because they

get breached all the time and you don't take action against them?

I know, but I think what we need to look at is the fact that Enfield

Council is working in a collaborative way with the local

police and with the other stakeholders in Enfield and we are

really committed to fighting crime. This was an initiative we took and

we are committed to the safety and security of our residents and for

us, this was a very pinnacle decision we made. I mean this young

man was an ideal candidate, unfortunately.

Have you got other injunctions out on other people, who are perhaps

abiding by the injunctions? Not at the moment, not that I am aware of.

Do you expect to do this often? Do you expect other other councils to

follow what you are doing here? hope so. I don't hope we do this

often. I want to make sure we work with the police to put procedures

in place so young people are deterred on taking - on becoming

gang gang members and I don't know if you heard about the Glasgow

situation where they organised a call-in, we have done something

similar in Enfield and young people were invited to a local court...

come in. People on the fringes or part of of gangs? They were invited

and they came in voluntarily and I need to give them credit. They came

in voluntarily and went through the jail and then into the docks as

they would would do had they been arrested and had very hard fact,

reality check at that court where they were confronted with people

who had experienced gang violence. A a woman who lost her son to gang

violence and in the local police... You had speakers, the speaker of

America as well, but the purpose of this just to try and persuade

people how it could ruin their lives? Absolutely. It is a long-

term ruin, isn't it really? You have got injunction, you have got

prison sentence and you come out and you try to build your life

again and our message to the young people is actually it is not worth

it and there are structures in Enfield working with our

stakeholders to help you come away from gang crime and clearly, I

think the fundamental message from Enfield is that you will either go

to jail or you will die. What do you think, Diane Abbott,

what did you make of it We, the Labour Government were proud of our

ASBOs, but some saw the ASBOs as a badge of honour.

And when they breached them, nothing happened? I was sceptical

about ASBOs. But this is fine. This is one gang member behind bars, but

there is dozens of them out on the streets of Enfield, not to say

Hackney and Tottenham. When you say bring them to court and let them

see the consequences of young, but I think you need to get them before

the age of of twelve. Richard Ottaway, is this a scheme

you would approve of? It is sad that he had to go to prison. It was

inevitable, he clearly breached the terms of the injunction, but what

these injunctions do is they break- up gang behaviour. It allows people

to get in there and work with the kids. It stops gangs meeting at

certain times and stops gangs meeting certain people and this is

disruptive behaviour which is effective. We have seen it work in

the United States and I congratulate you in Enfield for

what you are doing. Richard Ottaway, Bernard Hogan-Howe,

the Metropolitan Police Commissioner this week will launch

his great big anti-gang strategy. You may not have wind of what he is

going to do, but what would you like him to do? I would like to see

him go further down this road. Early intervention with the kids

trying to work with the kids, to talk them out of gang behaviour,

realise that you know, a bit of carrot and a bit of stick to try

and break it up. What has been happening over the last few years?

Well, that's the thing. It is easy to say what we should do. But we

have been talking about gangs for a decade in my part of London. There

is the aim of trying to get them young, but residents want to see

them go down, not just one person, but dozen of them need to be put

behind bars. It will be interesting to see what

progress you make. Their manager Harry Redknapp told a

court last week that he had problems reading and writing, so

perhaps it is apt that Tottenham hot Hotspur Football Club are

thinking about opening a school. Andrew Creighon reports on what

they might bring to the classroom The glory days are back. Spurs are

winning trophies, sit third in the league and hit the headlines this

week with the news that having flirted with the move to the

Olympic Stadium, the replacement for white Hart lane was going to be

built in the local areas. Spurs are staying on the same site. The new

stadium will stretch into the distance behind me. The club club

have resubmitted their planning application and within it, it

contains space for an educational facility and quite possibly a

school. The idea of using the new ground in

this way was sparked by a letter from the Education Secretary,

Michael Gove. In August 2010, he wrote to every premiership club in

the country and asked them to consider sponsoring an academy or

setting up a free school, but other football clubs in the London area

are involved in running our schools. This is the Harefield Academy, set-

up by board members of watt Watford football club. To get on to wall

you have to be national... youngsters that are doing sport

have driven forward the academic progress, achieving four A to C

grades is the norm. And that wouldn't happen without

Watford Watford Football Club? has evolved.

Harefield has turned out 20 boys who have gone on to play

professional football. The majority of our boys won't play

in the premiership. So what we do here, we make sure we give the boy

as safety net. If they don't achieve as a footballer, they get a

good strong education and use their skills in another walk of life.

But back in North London, what might a Tottenham school look like?

But from we have learned the plans maybe controversial. Spurs have

chosen a group called Wey Education to draw up the club's education

strategy. The group are unpopular wm some -- with some campaigners.

Tottenham, their education is about make ago profit out of State

education. Their business model which they put forward to investors

last year says they are confident that they can make a profit out of

the current existing levels of funding.

Another difficulty for Spurs could be the local controversy

surrounding school reforms in Haringey. This year downhill

Primary School made headlines around the country as one of a

number of local primaries that could be forced to become an

academy. A political argument that the club maybe keen to avoid.

In the meantime, politicians are almost certain to want to keep

being seen to be involved in Andrew Creighon there. It is always

worth seeing Ed Balls and Tony Blair on the football field. I am

joined by Rachel Wolf. What can football clubs bring and were

Tottenham Hotspur to spur sue this idea, why -- pursue this idea, why

would they be better? They are a wonderingful -- wonderful example

of the number of organisations who want to get involved in improving

standards for their community. You have seen a lot of football clubs

around the country doing this. What can they bring? They can bring

expertise in sport and in engaging people. A lot of people look up to

football clubs. They see footballers as role models and when

football clubs stand up and say, "We want to get involved in

education. We believe in education and want to donate time and money

and energy into making schools better." That sends a fantastic

message to the community. Norwich Football Club is helping do the PE

lessons for the Norwich Free School. One problem is the geography, there

is a good community secondary school opposite. Location matters,

doesn't it? Could there be any grounds for having a new school,

taxpayer funded, right opposite an existing?

We have a shortage of places at the moment. It is mostly primary, but

it will feed through to secondary. That's your get out here. Let's

assume that wasn't the issue? That's one of it. With free schools,

you cannot set-up a free school unless you have a petition from

parents saying, "This school will be the first choice for my child."

Unless parents are getting behind this and saying this is an

alternative we want. Yes, this is something we are looking for, the

school doesn't get set-up and it is time we listened to communities and

if they are calling out for an organisation like to the nam or any

other -- any other to to set-up one, that's is wonder..

The free school revolution hasn't swept into your constituencies. Any

There's not much difference between the two. How you got a free school

yet? We are working with some groups there. Why wouldn't that be?

The want to have one. You want a free school? Yes. We have an

academy, which is very similar. The last parents' night before it

became an Academy, 60 parents turned up. The first parents' night

after the academy status, 600 parents turned up. You've got to

have the local community behind it. Whether it is an Academy or free

school, it is the outcome and enthusiasm that is important.

of academies in Hackney, and they have transformed the area. No free

school yet. What about this idea of a football club doing a free

school? We gave academies an awful lot of money. I've got five

beautiful academies in Hackney, a lot of money was spent on them. Far

different from the free school model. But we haven't got any pre-

schools yet, and we do have a rather good primary schools. We do

you think of free schools? embrace lots of things now. We have

to have an open mind about them. With the academies, they are

unpopular with a lot of teachers and teachers' unions, but every

years people are clamouring to get into them. The only thing about

free schools is will they really have the funding and offer

something different? Anything that gets boys to go to school and stay

at school rather than being out on the streets and getting up to no

good must be a good thing. However, I'd prefer an Arsenal school than a

Tottenham school! A Crystal Palace School! I bet you don't support

Crystal Palace. I do. This idea of football and what they can bring,

does a tide past it? It will appeal to young kids. Going to the Spurs

School, Arsenal School, Crystal Palace school - this is something

they can be proud of. It would generate the enthusiasm we need.

is just a brand. But if it is a brand that attracts young people do

come to school then that is fine. But we do have to be careful about

having opposite and existing schools. You hope it is more than a

branding, it can Jennie Willett raise standards for everybody.

Everton are setting up a school for children who have been excluded

from other schools. They are putting masses of time and energy

and expertise in working out how to deliver that educational model. I

think it's about people thinking about new ways of doing things. We

are delighted that the government has put extra money, they announced

600 million more funding for free schools in autumn, because there

are thousands of groups we are working with who want to do this.

It has captured what people want for their communities. What else

has been happening in this city this week? Here is an idea in at 60

The new Metropolitan Police chief has said it is essential Tasers are

more readily available to police. But critics claim that the use of

Tasers, alongside CS gas, is an inflammable accident waiting to

happen. In Parliament, the Prime Minister offered reassurance that

the Epsom and St Helier hospital merger will still be actively

considered. Priority for the trust remains to secure the future of

Epsom, St Helier and Sutton Hospital. A new proposed solution

to the commuting problems Londoners are likely to face during the

Olympics came from Transport for London chief, Peter Hendy. Wait for

half-an-hour, have a beer, watch the games in the pub. Tottenham

Hotspur football club have announced they now intend to build

their new stadium in Tottenham, following the mayor's pledge of �18

million and Haringey Council giving �9 million to improve the

So much Tottenham. Let's talk about Tottenham. No, let's not. Stay a

bit longer and have a beer, avoid London Bridge state -- station - is

this going to work? A lot of work has gone into movements around

London during the Olympics. Any Saturday afternoon there is

Tottenham, Arsenal, rugby at Twickenham going on. But we do have

to think ahead, we do have to plan. That is what TfL and Peter Hendy

have been up to. You guys don't have to go to work during that time,

you what during one of your long holidays. I will be at home,

dealing with my hundreds of e-mails. You won't be affected by it Olympic

traffic? I will be, Dravid will be a nightmare. But Peter Hendy is

right on this. Anybody who can work from home should work for from home.

A lot of people will... Do you think people will heed that message

and companies will allow them to work at home? I think so. Traffic

tales of in August anyway. When people are warned that something is

going on, it does all quite considerably. Having the added

encouragement of a beer or a lemonade whenever you want will

make a difference. As politicians, for us, politics always goes on.

Politics never stop. Bosses won't have any option. There's no point

in people spending three hours in traffic. Talking about beer or

lemonade, thank you very much indeed. With that, it's back to

Goodwin lost his knighthood and Chris Huhne, he lost his job. What

Bonuses still in the headlines. There will be more bankers bonuses

coming out this week and next week. Now Justine Greening has told the

Sunday Politics she's going to the Network Rail Board to vote against

their bonus. It sounded like a development on this story.

Technically, what Justine Greening was saying is she can't actually

tell them what to do. But it sounds as if they will take very seriously

her displeasure, and that will actually influence the outcome.

Network Rail has been playing games as well. Clearly the law, she has

convinced the law that she doesn't but she still can go along and make

a point. I would suggest that the Secretary of State for Transport

votes against the bonus scheme, in reality Network Rail can't continue.

I don't think they can divide the will of the Secretary of State. I

do wonder whether this backlash against bonuses is in danger of

crossing the line. Last week the Hester hysteria was embarrassing.

It's more than embarrassing now. Britain is what requiring a

reputation internationally as a place which is not just tie in

taxation and regulation, but which has also culturally hostile to

business. That is a ruinous image to have. I really think that the

British public have no problem with giving awards to people when they

feel it is earned. When they feel the prices are right and when the

services become efficient and when jobs aren't being cut. But in a lot

of cases, particularly the rail companies, people feel the service

isn't improving. In fact, it's getting worse. That is a problem

that the government has to tackle. Would people be surprised to know

that the head of Network Rail is on a salary of �560,000. Under this

scheme he would be up for a bonus of 340,000, taking him pretty near

to �1 million. He has not risk a penny of his own money. He hasn't

got any competition because there's only one railway. This is a problem

across the board on our public bodies. The Sunday Times today has

a story about the Director of Communications at the qualities

Commission who is earning an enormous demand. How can that

possibly be justified? What is the answer to that? I think the problem

is, I agree it with you, it seems to be very reactionary. It goes to

the front pages come as something changes and then the cycle

continues. What we need is a systematic approach to bonuses and

rewards across the board, instead of having this ad hoc, populous

response. I can't see why they don't just re-advertised the job

for the qualities Commission. I'm sure he's very good at his job but

he's only there on an interim basis. Let's re-advertised it and see who

we can get for 50 grand. I find it amazing that someone can be on

�250,000. It doesn't sound equal to me. It's at the equalities

Commission. There's an important difference between public bodies

and private enterprises. The government getting as involved in

the private sector alarms me. storm clouds are gathering for Mr

Cameron today. Very bad press, called shifty and weak by the

Sunday Times. Who is responsible for the Sunday Times editorials?

I'll not go there. Attacked in the Sunday Telegraph, too. One of the

fall-out from Mr Chris Huhne's de boccia, the MPs trying to change

run green policy now. What has happened is perhaps a bit of

complacency has crept into the Tory leadership and into Number 10.

Perhaps because over the last few weeks and months, the Labour

leadership has been so weak. This has just allowed the government,

the Tory lead government, to rest on their laurels a bit. What we see

is a Prime Minister who is quite happy... For what I think is

happening is Cameron's big advantage as a politician is he is

a total pragmatist. He's been very good at balancing the group's

between his backbenchers and vendors, the public and the Lib

Dems. But all of these groups are getting further apart on all of the

issues, whether it is the environment, bonuses or whatever.

He's looking less like a pragmatist and more like someone who is quite

inconsistent. That is where the right wing press are coming out

against him. It's coming at a time when Mr Ed Miliband is showing

signs of life. Supposedly. On Cameron, I think he'll be less

worried about the MPs writing letters that he will be about

criticism in newspapers that Number 10 takes very seriously, like the

Times and Sunday Times. I think the Times criticism is fair. It points

at something which has been noticeable recently. In the first

18 months of the government they did a very good job of avoiding

day-by-day, new striven tactical to-ing and fro-ing, in favour of

big, strategic decisions on things like the economy and public sector

reform. On the bonus issue and a few other things, they've lost a

bit of that. This is a Prime Minister who boasts about having

time for weekly date nights with Samantha, and says he has time to

play Fruit Manger on his iPad. That looks like not just a normal person

but someone who is likely idle for leading the country. Mr Miliband.

Two good weeks. Is this a watershed? There is a danger of

exaggerating how could it has been. The pattern that is a problem for

him is he keeps seizing upon issues where Labour already have a lot of

strength. Murdoch, the NHS, executive pay at the top. In order

to gain ground as a leader of the opposition, you need to start

pulling on issues where your party is not trusted. That means welfare

abuse. On the Labour side, are based sensing this I think the

press is very fickle. You can have two good weeks and then you can say

he is on the up. In a week's time everything can change. It is

interesting that in the longer term picture, Ed Miliband has come under

a huge amount of personal pressure but he is still there and still

raising issues people care about. He is going on the NHS as well as

bonuses, but I wonder if he is at the risk of coming a cropper there.

As a student union thing about the way he has gone about this. Three

months to save the NHS. The NHS will still be there in three months.

An advantage to that is the campaign has in-built victory. He's

going to be able to say at the end of it, we still have a functioning

NHS. It depends what happens. This bill was going to get completely

changed. I think Ed Miliband is picking up on that and pushing it.

There is an area where the bonus issue and the Ed Miliband issue a

lines. As David Miliband argued recently, the left have been

dawdling on how to distribute wealth but not have to created in