23/06/2013 Sunday Politics South West

for the future of our railway. And Labour's search for a candidate in

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2111 seconds

the place it thinks it's got the on the Sunday Politics in the South

West: Labour's search for a candidate in the place it thinks

it's got the best chance of gaining an MP down here.

And for the next twenty minutes, I'm joined by Lib Dem MP Dan Rogerson

and Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, welcome both of you to the programme. Let's

start with schools. This week an Ofsted report said rural and coastal

schools are failing poor pupils more than inner city areas. The report

said disadvantaged children in London and Manchester are doing

better than those children in the South West. Then, it is shocking.

Why is it happening? Is it a Labour legacy? It is the positive story in

London and Manchester. There have been huge improvements in inner

cities. London had the worst schools but now has the best and fastest

improving. That was the result of investment and initiatives in London

and support for excellent head teachers. That is good news in

London and Manchester. Labour is advocating a similar scheme in the

south-west to London where you get super teachers coming in, schools

corporate and, better leadership and good local authorities to manage

this and with the fragmentation with academies and preschools, you have

no means for the local authority to manage failure. The only person who

can do anything is Michael Gove in London. You co-chaired the Lib Dem

education group. What is happening? There's been a wide gap between the

attainment historically of people from low income backgrounds and

people from higher income backgrounds which is why the Lib

Dems put the pupil premium to target money at schools. We want a change

in the funding formula. Under previous government money has been

focused in urban areas. There are in poor income areas like Cornwall to

say we need a fairer allocation of money with additional resources to

invest in more training for teachers and support them to deliver

education. Stay with us. Plenty more to discuss. Trains were back on the

agenda at Westminster last week. The tricky business of drawing up a new

contract for the region's rail services is still on hold as the

franchise system is repaired. Ministers are in the middle of

negotiations for an interim contract to keep our trains running in the

meantime. All this uncertainty is leading to renewed calls for the

railways to return to public ownership. Tamsin Melville reports.

This heritage line is the only train running in the constituency of North

Cornwall. The local MP may deeply for a return of rail services to the

area not seem since -- since the cats of the 1960s. There are hopes a

new franchise will bring more services more regularly. But we

could be waiting a long time. If everything went to plan, there would

be a new franchise for great Western services by now. Things are still

very much up in the air. Following the collapse of the West Coast line

franchise process last day, the system is under review. That has

meant the current operators have already had one extension to their

contract and are now negotiating with government for a further two

years. Unions are not happy. I think they are pushing it into the long

grass. It takes us be on the next election. I do not think the

critical parties have any idea what they want to do with the railways

and transport in general and my view is there is only one option which is

bring back the railways under public control. Whether the trains run by

public or private companies is not the main issue.

I could not care less really, as long as it is cheap when you're a

pensioner. That is the thing that matters. It does not make the

slightest difference whatsoever. The main thing is getting there. I am

not bothered who runs it as long as it is run properly. This transport

campaigner thinks the call for renationalisation is a red herring.

People want value for money, reliability and frankly if franchise

changes hands the only thing that changes the most passengers is the

colour of the uniform. With the franchise timetable slipping, he is

worried key engineering works further up the line mean a two-year

extension for first group is not the right approach. It would make more

sense to give an interim franchise to first group and then a new

franchise in 2018 when the railway is ready to take something

different. First group says the contract negotiations with

government are progressing well. It expects to submit its proposals next

month. Tamsin Melville reporting, earlier I

spoke to Transport Minister, Simon Burns... I started by asking him

whether the RMT was right to say these interim franchise negotiations

are about to collapse. Well, I am afraid the RMT are not correct.

Talks are going well, they are going smoothly and we will await the

outcome of the conclusion of the talks in June course. The RMT says a

rescue plan is on the cards, to bring in the publicly owned

railways. What the RMT do not understand is with all franchises as

they are being discussed and put together, we, as a department, have

to use the procedures in place to ensure there is a cut plan if the

franchise agreements are not reached. All franchisees are a if

franchise is not agreed then a door will be operated so the Secretary of

State for transport can fulfil his legal obligations to have a

continuously running railway. franchise is known for having out of

date rolling stock, overcrowded trains and lack of investment. Isn't

it time proper investment was brought to the south-west? 33

billion is being spent in the North. We are spending 33 billion over 20

years on high-speed rail, that is a different project. It is but the new

economic foundation said it was not value for money. If you let me

answer, you might get. . Are spending over the next few years �37

billion to network rail and investing in the railways. How much

is coming to the south-west, ? What you are seeing on the first Great

Western line is electrification moving forward down to Bristol and

beyond into South Wales, we are seeing improvements to stations like

the massive improvement on Reading station. That helps get to London

that what about Bristol South? We are also seeing work being done in

addition in Cornwall and Devon which has put in a passing loop at Penry

increasing services which in Falmouth and Truro increasing... It

is small amounts of money. Little bits money of on little projects,

putting more carriages on the direct services down to Devon and to help

alleviate the overcrowding. It is an ongoing process and it will

continue. Thank you for joining us. Does that put your mind at rest? No,

we are paying a high price for the incompetence of the West Coast Main

line franchise. Ownership is not the issue. I wish the government would

spend more time sorting out first Great Western franchises rather than

re-privatising the East Coast mainline which is bringing millions

of pounds back to the taxpayer. We desperately need this investment. We

need it all over the region, better rolling stock, more reliable trains.

It has been put off because of incompetence. Do you want to see the

main railway line in public ownership? My approach is not

ideological. Actually, it is not ownership that matters. The East

Coast mainline has done well in the public sector. I have nothing

against that in our franchise region. What the public want is a

good service, affordable fares, decent rolling stock and reliable

trains. That is investment we should have had by now.

Dan, what do you say? It is a huge problem caused by the mess left over

over the Western mainline issues. There has been a lot of fallout.

Local authorities like Cornwall and the old Cornwall county council and

the new administration are keen to work with government to look where

we can bring local public transport funding. 33 billion is going up to

the HS2 project wonderful and the North but what about us? We were cut

over from Exeter for three weeks. How come there is no more money, how

can you justify 30,000,000,001 direction and peanuts in the other?

The debate was to look at things which will improve services. There

is a gap in the franchise. We have time to make sure we get it right so

it guarantees what we have and increases the level of service. I

support electrification and we will get a cascading down of new rolling

stock. You are right, it is the delay causing problems because we

should have had investment by now. There is a challenge, where

electrification has come to Exeter, what would it mean to Penzance?

There are technological ways. In the short-term, we want investment in

the key points and flood resilience which will see us through. Thank you

very much. Last weekend the Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston was in the

national papers reminding the Prime Minister of his promise that more MP

candidates would be chosen the way she was - in an election open to

every voter in the constituency. Meanwhile Labour is busy selecting

its candidate to fight the party's number one South West target in

2015. John Danks has been speaking to the two men who've made it to the

final round. We live in a city of 265,000 people

and a diverse group of people. In the last census there were 80 96,

one of them is destined to be the MP for the area. Chaz Singh is

confident, he has had a taste of victory. He was elected as a Labour

councillor in the local elections. The former shopkeeper believes he is

the right person to represent this Plymouth constituency as an MP.

Being a people person is most important. People need to connect

with you, being a real person, being a real voice and being able to bring

those qualities and change for people in Plymouth Sutton and

Devonport. Oliver Colvile took the seat from Linda Gilroy at the last

election. Labour believe they can win back the seat. Luke Pollard

hopes he will be the man the party chooses to do the job. It will not

be easy to overturn the majority Oliver Colvile had but we will do

that by listening and campaigning and making sure we are fighting on

the issues people care about, the living wage and transport and

performing -- reforming welfare. We have to be able to present a

positive message, not just the negative message about how badly the

Tories and Lib Dems are doing. Lucas interest began at an early age. --

Luke Pollard macro interest. She was political and taught me you should

do stuff to help other people and I wanted to get involved in the

community and it was always labour I supported. When I joined the party I

joined and I went campaigning on the doorstep.

I am Sarah Wollaston. When the Sarah Wollaston was selected in 2009 it

was with the backing of 8000 local voters. This was Britain's first

open primary selection. The coalition promised 300 more. People

say to me they did not vote at the general election but they did in the

open primary. The point is they feel a sense of connection and ownership.

I look at safe seats, there are many which never change hands. What

happens is effectively around 50 people get to choose who will

represent a constituency for decades to come. That cannot be right. Back

in Plymouth, this hall is where 300 Labour Party members would choose

their candidates to challenge for the Sutton and Devonport seat.

Hustings next Sunday will be their chance to sell themselves to the

party faithful. To discuss this we are joined by someone who stood

against Sarah Wollaston in top mess. Welcome to the programme. -- top

mess. Would you have been a better candidate? That is not the issue. It

was good for democracy, it was good for the local Conservative party.

The key thing is to try to get people from a broader range of

backgrounds into Parliament and to engage people from the community in

politics. The open primary did that in spades. It is a shame it has not

been repeated elsewhere. If it less about the money, �40,000 per open

primary, or more about the fact it leads to a more rebellious nature of

MP, they do not owe their loyalty to anyone but the people. If you are

selected as Sarah was by the wider community it puts you in a strong

position when you go to Westminster. That is a good thing. I think she

would have been an independent minded courageous member of

Parliament no matter which way she was selected because what she brings

is real experience of life, being a doctor, local GP, and watching her

at the select committee questioning the chief executive of the National

Health Service, splendid television. We do not often get that calibre,

that calibre of questioning and scrutiny. Why have the Tories drop

the idea of open primaries? There is no conspiracy. In Torbay we have

selected a Parliamentary candidate and it's been an open process. But

in general they were going to roll it out to 200 areas. The

Conservatives are ahead of the others because it is common practice

now from local associations to open up the final selection to people

registered as voters. We only had a small turnout, 200 came along, maybe

because it could have been given a longer time for the candidates to

get across. There is a selection of candidates implement. The Labour

Party selected to candidates, neither were female. Does that send

out a message when they try to achieve more female MPs? We have

more women MPs than any other parties. We have three women Labour

MPs will stop they are good candidates with a strong pedigree.

The local party thought they were the best candidate to choose

between. I support the idea of open primaries. It is something to do

with the fact Sarah Wollaston has been such an excellent and

independent minded member of Parliament. How she damaged her

chances of going further? I hope not but I fear she has. She would make a

wonderful health minister given her experience as a GP but because she's

been so critical of the government policies it is unlikely she will

ever be made a minister. It is a great shame. Where do you stand? It

is one of those one-off things people will do in the moment and it

does not encouraging gauge route with the wider process. What I would

like is for the political parties to have a bigger membership, it is

partly our fault and partly a need to look at other ways of engagement.

In terms of policy formation and local elections and the fabric of

local communities it is better for everybody if political parties are

broadly based. There is no incentive to engage with the party. This is

something you could make a reality. I am not a fan of open primaries.

The coalition agreement is between the parties I am here as a Lib Dem

MP. Will you toe the party line? As you say, it is a coalition issue.

Your background is mainly in politics. Nick that it is good for

people from different backgrounds. I came in at a young age, I do not

think it would suit everybody but it is helpful that I was a younger

voice amongst... I was the only young councillor under the age of 50

on the council. Have you rebelled? You can check that in Hansard.

Tuition fees, I took a different view. Have you? It is difficult to

rebel as a government minister but I have spoken my mind. Rebelliousness

is not a good measure of being a good MP. You reach agreement and you

stay loyal. Will we see more of you? Politicians are a dull lot. The

system needs shaking up. Whether that is my task in life, I do not

know. Who knows? We will watch and see. Thank you for joining us. Now

our regular round-up of the political week in sixty seconds.

A pothole row broke out with motorists questioning why the

council does not repair the worst ones first. Because they are so

deep, you hit it and do not realise and southerly the wheel has gone.

New figures reveal the end of the spare room subsidy has put 40% of

Cornwall Council tenants behind with their rent. They are not paying

hoping it would be abolished or they are paying what they can afford or

they are paying it all and they are going without. There were calls for

better police funding in Dorset. We are not asking for more money. All

we are asking for is a better share of the cake. And Torbay Council

support of the Miss England competition divided opinion. We do

not want the kiss me quick nights to be synonymous with Torquay any more.

Let's look at the Miss world contest in Torbay. Is it acceptable to

parade and judge women in this age based on looks? I do not think it

presents the image most resorts want to. The wider issue with the council

should have given it a subsidy when local authorities are strapped for

cash. It is a bizarre decision.It raised more than they spent. It was

worth that in advertising. How to quantify it might have been worth?

My Lib Dem colleague is correct to say it is a strange use of money.

Are you in favour? You asked me about �100,000 fake palm tree.