01/04/2012 Sunday Politics North East and Cumbria

In the North East and Cumbria: Ludicrous and over the top. A

Northumberland MPs verdict on plans to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2163 seconds

by re-naming this Westminster Hello, and a warm welcome to your

local part of the programme. Coming up: Could millions of pounds of

European money earmarked to help create jobs in the North East go

unspent? We've a special report. And with me for the next 20 minutes,

Labour Euro-MP Stephen Hughes, and the elected mayor of North Tyneside,

Conservative Linda Arkley. We start with the Queen's Diamond

Jubilee, and one MP has broken ranks over the celebrations which

he says are way over the top. Blyth's Ronnie Campbell is a self-

confessed Republican who says he resents being ruled over by "fifth

generation Germans." This week he dismissed as "ludicrous" the idea

of renaming St Stephen's Tower at Westminster, home to Big Ben, in

honour of the Queen. Mark Denten spoke to him and asked him what was

wrong with the idea. It was built in Victorian years, not 10 hair

time, so it should be Victoria's tower really! The tower will always

be like St James's Park, it will always be called Big Ben. Even if

it was renamed, it will be called Big Ben. He said you do not like

being rolled over by Fifth Generation Germans, who changed

their name from Battenburg to Windsor. A lot of royalists might

be profoundly upset by that. sorry to tell them, that is the

truth. They changed their name in the First World War and that is the

truth. If they do not like the truth, I am sorry. I apologise if

people are offended. You are family not a royalist, you are a

Republican. -- You were firmly not a royalist. Lots of events taking

place this summer to celebrate the Queen's anniversary. I have seen it

before. Some people over plates. We are going through a hell of a

struggle in this part of the world. I think it is not on a lot of

people's's mind. Will you go to any of the street parties? A I'm hoping

to get their way for the weekend. You are not staying in the country?

I am looking forward to getting away. I do not know where. It is a

minority view, would you accept, that you do not want to celebrate

the anniversary? The Queen has got support, but royalty is slipping.

Maybe in an eccentric, I think it will be gone altogether. -- maybe

in the next century. It is dying all over Europe. They are just

there as tokens. Linda Arkley, I assume you share that view?

Certainly not. I am a royalist. In North Tyneside, we have had many

street parties over the years, and we will be having many for the

Jubilee. The Queen is the greatest public servant we have ever had. I

think it is a great opportunity for everyone to have what they feel is

appropriate. Is he wrong to question this, or is that his

democratic right? I think it is his democratic right. Steve and Hughes,

is the Jubilee something that can lift the gloom -- Stephen Hughes?

think people have more important things on my mind. We are in the

midst of a recession, but hopefully, it can lift the mood a bit. I share

the view that the Queen herself has a very good job. Prince Philip as

well. I am not sure but the extended family around them. My

mother is very much a Republican, so she will not like what I am

saying! I think it is right to mark the anniversary. Linda Arkley, at

the Jubilee celebrations something down to individuals to organise, or

should the council be putting anything into it? A lot of

residents are getting on with the organising their street party. We

have helped in some respects. Not financially. We are not giving them

money. We are making things easier, such as road closures and things

like that. Stephen Hughes, the Queen does seem to have public

support, but is this an institution that will die out? I do not think

so. I think it is wrong, with respect to rally, to say it is

dying out in Europe. -- respect to Ronnie Campbell. Thank you both.

Now, imagine having �100 million to spend before next year. Well,

that's how much money there is in a European Commission pot with the

North East's name on it. The aim is to fund projects that will create

jobs. But strict rules mean the money can only be spent if local

councils, Government departments or businesses match-fund the cash

pound for pound. And that's not easy in the middle of an economic

crisis. And with the clock ticking to 2013, some MPs fear the cash may

go unspent. Here's Fergus Hewison. You can see into offices, but it

brings you back to this court that. It is a hi-tech space designed for

21st century digital businesses, in a former toffee factory. The woman

who looks after the place, Lisa, is showing me around. Newcastle's

refurbished toffee factory was refurbished using money from the

European Regional Development Fund. Lovering Gateshead, the creative

process is also at work. This place was built for the help of �225,000,

also from the Regional Development Fund. There are places in Newcastle

and elsewhere in the region, but no where permanence in Gateshead.

There are all sorts of things here. But there is no where to fill them

within -- from within Gateshead, so we have created a place where these

people can work and hopefully exhibit them and performing these

places. Nick says without being able to match funds, things may not

have got off the ground. To be able to match find the money we had got

has made the project so much better -- match fawned. He in the north

face, the European Regional than a month and is worth �328 million. A

desire to promote economic growth and competition. Money from the

fund has to be matched locally by other organisations, including

councils. It must be allocated to projects by 2013, or the

outstanding cash can be taken back by Brussels. There is still over

�100 million in the pot, waiting to be spent. There are some concerns

his remaining cash will not be spent before the deadline. It is

down in part to the abolition of a regional agency. We have the

regional growth fund. It is smaller, but it is there. The Government's

is not allocating funding to match fund the projects. Any two projects

here in the North East have used that. -- only two. We are wasting

money, and didn't get back to Brussels when we could use it.

Department for... It is confident that funding will be allocated

before the 2013 deadline, and spent in the two years after that, as

required. It has led to accusations that Labour are scaremongering.

There is around �100 million left. We have around �60 million of that

committed. Some of the match funding can come from the new

regional growth fund. It is likely to be the way we will find some of

those projects over the next few years. Europe funding has played a

role in many projects. There must be enough cash locally Sudan up

with the money that flows from Brussels. Otherwise money that

brings in jobs and investment could come unstuck.

Stephen Hughes, let's talk about this issue of scaremongering.

is a possibility the money will not be spent. I hope it will. We need

to prove we are worthy of funding beyond the end of 2013, and the

best way to do that is to fully commit and spend his money. I met

the commissioner responsible for this and he said we have allocated

roundabouts 60 %, Scotland has allocated over 90 %. Wales were

about 80 %. We are trailing quite badly. The other thing he said that

concerns him is that it is worrying that if you change funding and

delivery structures midway through a funding period, and that is what

has happened with the demise of one agency. Linda Arkley, it would be a

lack of planning if we lost millions of pounds that the North-

East needs because the government has pulled the book on this match

funding. I do not accept that. We spend two-thirds of that allocated

funding, and there is �40 million to be spent. There are many people

who have applied for the European funding, and I think all of that

money will be spent. I think that the North East Local Enterprise

Partnership has been quite active to ensure that people are aware.

Sure, but they do not have the money. They have �25 million. What

we have to do is ensure that funding is used, and that we

support those people who, and I certainly have. North Tyneside was

successful in receiving �900,000 for a business enterprise. Stephen

Hughes. I think it is important that Labour is not so -- that

Labour is not blamed for scaremongering. Project had been

pulled off the shelf. Some people will say, this is our money. If we

came out of the EU, we could just an anomaly of our projects. We have

been here before. We had a Conservative government in the past

that was hostile to the idea of regional government and spending of

money like this. We had good, strong Labour councils and we

managed at that time. I hope we will do it again. Thank you very

much for now. Now, the Government says our big

cities are the key to unlocking economic growth. It's one reason

why ten of them, including Newcastle, are getting the chance

to vote in May on whether to have a city mayor. And the Government

offered an extra incentive this week. At a Downing Street reception,

David Cameron unveiled plans for a "mayor's cabinet" which would meet

at least twice a year with the Prime Minister. But the policy of

empowering our cities isn't only about elected mayors. Ministers

have just agreed a so-called "city deal" with the local council in

Manchester giving them extra powers, and Newcastle wants the same. But

what would a city deal mean on Tyneside and for neighbouring

councils? Mark Denten went on a quick tour of the city to find out.

According to the government, Newcastle is an engine of growth.

One of eight course it is vital for the future of our economy. Could it

be right for a city deal, a power transfer from ministers to

Newcastle council? It would get the power to borrow more money. The

council would be able to borrow �151 million before -- to fund

developments on a number of sight. Including this one, and this one.

How will the council get its money back? It will get key -- it will

keep business rates for 25 years. We need government to allow us to

retain those business rates, commit to them over 25 years. That should

generate about 70,000 jobs. city deal is not just about

specific powers. Newcastle council things it could also help them

lobby for other things, like lobbying the government for

improvements on this bypass. Councils were confident the deal

would be signed and sealed and the budget, but Tony Manchester and

Liverpool got do not. People in Newcastle will get a chance to

decide whether they want an elected mayor, but the government said any

city deal will not depend on whether they vote yes or no.

Meanwhile, we all wait. The question for Newcastle now, deal on

their deal? Linda Arkley, is it a problem for some were like

Tyneside? I think it is great for Newcastle. I think it is great for

us in North Tyneside and around the region. There will be a knock-on

effect. There will be opportunity for us all to benefit from that. It

does not just stay within Newcastle. There will be a knock-on effect for

businesses. A doesn't it make Newcastle the premiere council in

the region? It leaves North Tyneside a kind of second division

council. I do not agree with that. We welcome back a shipper Newcastle

already. I would hope our priority is like -- I would hope had

priorities continue to flourish. Stephen Hughes, Labour talk the

talk about handing powers, but give the coalition some credit, they are

giving resources to councils to do something. Let's say what happens

in practice. The whole story was about the pulling back to London of

powers, and away from local government. Power seemed to be

going back to local authorities. Partially, here and there. But not

on the whole scale basis. Localism is a phrase that has been used a

great deal at the moment. People active in local government know the

reality. Cutbacks left right and centre and power has been pulled

back. If this happens, I would welcome it. If it was Manchester,

Liverpool, Newcastle acting as engines for growth, then great. But

this is partial spending. It is a sticking plaster to cover gaping

wounds in the regions. Linda Arkley, to someone in Europe, the idea of

dividing Tyneside into separate places means nothing. Wouldn't it

be better with one mayor for Tyneside? I think it is interesting

thought. Plainly, I would like to see the detail behind that --

clearly. Four Tyneside authorities, they could have won their rather

than four. A would be an interesting proposal. I would like

to look at the small print. Hedging your bets! Stephen Hughes, our

cities could benefit from this. They could. There is this idea of

city regions. By identifying places to be city regions and given

greater autonomy. Places like Gateshead would have to swallow

their pride. I do not think so. We have a strong tradition of

partnership working in regions like ours. When the bid went in for

Newcastle to be a city of culture, and for Gateshead, they reached out

and brought people together, talking about how it could benefit

the region. I gather it would just be city mayors. I Axis government

ministers and have good relationships with them.

disappointed not to be invited into his Cabinet? I already meet with

the prime minister and government ministers. Thank you very much.

Now, as you may have noticed, it's been unseasonably hot this week.

But there's one man who never lets the heat slow him down. Barely

breaking a sweat, Mark Denten's here again to deliver the week's

Tammy Craig Thomson is calling for better transport for disabled

people at she had to get off a train at mid-thigh. Requested

assistance, but not arrive -- Tan 8 Craig Thomson.

The sale of illegal cigarettes has threatened to undermine efforts to

tackle smoking. Even smokers want something done about it. I streets

in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Darlington are among those benefit

from �100,000 each to help bring empty shops back into use. This has

been set up in response to a report by the met reporters.

George Osborne can remember the last time he'd bought take pasty --

George Osborne cannot remember the last time he brought a pasty. I do

not have time to us might guess about the past the!

And that's about if from us for this week. There's more about the

Cabinet of Mayors on my blog, so do take a look. That's at

bbc.co.uk/richardmoss. It's the perfect place too to share your

views on anything you've seen on today's programme. Maybe you agree

with Ronnie Campbell and are dreading the the Jubilee, or think

he should be sent to the Tower. Either way, let us know.