15/09/2013 Sunday Politics South West

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

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

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

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

policy was scrapping the Trident nuclear deterrent, supported by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the only one that has got tongues Dem leadership have commissioned

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

of the country will never vote Dem leadership have commissioned

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

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

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

Add, back in his hometown. So, the Much of their party thinks they

Add, back in his hometown. So, the moving in the wrong direction.

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

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

leader Paddy Ashdown. He has been election campaign. I asked him if

the mood in Glasgow was grim. No. In many ways, as you know, Tory old

commentator that you are just as I am a hoary old member at the other

end of the camera, we have been midterm of a government, especially

when you are in government and the country is going for in a deep

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

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

economic crisis, has almost no will vote in 600 days time -- when

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

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

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

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

will vote. We do not dismiss polls, as we come to the election, the

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

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

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

public will be in a very serious, to higher mortgage? The coalition

has delivered not only the required policies to make Britain's economy

prosperous, but also its society fair. That is what people will want

to see. I think coalition politics are here to stay and we have a role

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

mood this morning. You tweeted that you were not happy with how the

Observer newspaper handled your there anything we can do to help?

There is probably something they arguments with the interview. The

headline they chose to put on it late last night was outrageous,

misrepresentative and in one case in Something about Ashdown wants a

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

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

inference. Let me make this point. election. I am in charge of the

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

Liberal Democrat prefers anything else in terms of the outcome of

Liberal Democrat prefers anything coalition but the result of the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and dislikes, but the thing that coalition is the ballot box. You

have said that three times. I can say it again if you like. Please

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

reinstate tuition fees as party policy afternoon? We will have to

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

listen to that and act accordingly. party and take it into account in

what you do. I am always quite answering hypothetical questions. I

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

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

don't think it is likely to happen, your party conference voted for

something, it was in the manifesto. The manifesto is taken in its final

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

form before the party for decision. stage in all sorts of ways. It did

in my leadership, too. The manifesto is democratically agreed by the

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

party at the time of the election, be about how they think they have

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

worked, the economy is turning a corner. But Nick Clegg's conference

announcements will be about plastic bags. Have you got the hang of this

coalition think? Andrew, you can always be guaranteed to put things

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

is part of your charm. That was about to be a minor announcement in

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2.5 million people who have been lifted out of taxation altogether

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

these remarks and admit that you should be proud and happy with what

Britain has done? No. You and I should be proud and happy with what

know, because we are old observers, that that would never have happened

underpinning of a threat to use resigned from that. We have no part

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

to play in the fact that Assad and fear of military action. We decided

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

liked to have seen our country join in with those who are serious about

upholding an international law which has restrained even than axes and

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

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

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

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

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

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

inspectors came back. That time frame was absolutely nothing to

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Westminster methinks that will be matched in their parliamentary

representation. If they have 56 matched in their parliamentary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

big split between the Tim Farron line who say they like Ed Miliband,

and another one, Jeremy Browne in the Home Office saying that Labour

are intellectually lazy. The risk clearly a clique around Nick Clegg

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

who wants to be a synthetic party, activists are clearly of the left,

not just the centre-left. They are very pro-immigration and they want

strategy has to be to take the party to the centre. The something not

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

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

happen at some stage? The poll would have yielded -- would have

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

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

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

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

2010 election. This is reflected by Clegg's on latitude to choose is

exaggerated by us. The choice is no parliamentary arithmetic. But if you

remember the structure of the Lib Dems, they can tie themselves up in

infighting. -- the choice is not stable. And Nick Clegg has had a

good conference last year, and will have another one this year. The

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

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

ago. It could still go quite well stories of this Parliament, his

survival and the way in which he has prospered. But there are a lot of

campaigners, labour activists who have not forgotten what he has done

in government and are determined to get him. It will be a tough year and

a half. Tougher than he imagined. Now, not so long ago they were

writing George Osborne's political obituary. Be on the Omni shambles

budget of 2012 and a lacklustre performance of the British economy

meant his reputation work -- was in the dirt. -- the omnishambles. But

things have changed. The Chancellor is saying he has been vindicated. If

runway, it looks as though the British economy has taken off,

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

the year have been revised up words. What's more, the office for National

recession never actually happened. Unemployment is down in the three

months to July and the number of spasticity rate since 1997. On

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

Monday, George Osborne said his our nerve when many told us to

abandon our plans. As a result, thanks to the efforts and sacrifices

of the British people, Britain is turning a corner. The message for

his Labour critics was clear. The Chancellor thinks he was right and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

isn't that like Satan complaining about seven? -- seven. We all know

that we cannot go back to business as usual. We need to build a new

model of growth. But the housing bubble you talk about, it is not a

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

said the risk of a bubble. It is nothing like what happened on the

I said, in 2009, we had the crash and we knew we needed to reconfigure

the way that our economy works. Having an economy based on crisis is

rebalance the economy. We saw the unemployment statistics this week,

and it is welcomed overall, that unemployment has come down. At half

up. And it went down in other parts. We know that we need to rebalance

our economy, so that we do not just rely on consumption, but that we

grow our productive sectors. And also that we grow our exports as

well. We know we have a continuing deficit. We always have a trade

deficit. There was never a trade surplus under Labour. Want to come

onto what you have mentioned but would you scrap the help to buy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That is obvious. Labour said that government austerity would prevent

the return of growth. Austerity government austerity would prevent

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

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

were wrong. We never said that overly extreme deficit reduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Westminster to take credit. But are the ones who have powered this

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

growth comes, the government has to situation Britain is in now. We

growth comes, the government has to the recovery still has to reach

growth comes, the government has to parts of the country, but this is

the OECD annualised growth in the G-7, the world's guest economies.

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

is a recovery. I am not denying G-7, the world's guest economies.

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

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

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

financial services sector and took services are still in decline.

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

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

people to have any job, we want is falling, but we don't just want

to have decent jobs that pay a weight you can live off and that are

more secure. Let me show you the unemployment figures. Your criticism

has been that all the new jobs are part-time. They are not now, they

employment, up 94,000. This is a short time frame. It is since the

recovery began. Half the jobs that have been part-time jobs. Roughly

who would like to work full-time. Over the last 20 years, people now

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

feel more insecure at work than kind of growth and employment you

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

uneven spread of this across our north-east and north-west, the

Humber, the east of England, they agree that there was a regional

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

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

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

happening. It is not happening to long-term, sustainable model of

comprehensive industrial strategy towards. Your party conference is

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

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

people see of him? I don't accept that. I have given you the figures.

Polls go up and down. I have said that on this programme before. But

his approval rating has consistently gone down. What actually matters our

leadership, the Labour Party have gone down. What actually matters our

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

it back? That would be irresponsible. But the government

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

up in 20 minutes, Coming up on the Sunday Politics in

the South West. Around about plans to build a huge wind farm off the

North Devon coast. For the next 20 minutes I am joined by Dan Rogerson

and Nicky Williams. I am sure that Dan is one of many Liberal Democrats

hoping that the conference will improve their election chances. A

promise to sort out Council funding will be high on some wish lists. The

leader of Devon Council warned of devastating cuts. Dan is one of

those who has argued for urban council cash to be handed to rural

ones, but the chance of the Liberal Democrats seems unlikely. But who

doing not seems unlikely. If I was running a local authority I would

say to central government, we are having to make difficult decisions.

The fact is everyone is having to make difficult decisions. These

critics accept the overall cake needs to be smaller, but they say it

is unfairly divided up. Is it fair that urban authorities get 50% more

funding than rural ones. In Sheffield, you're making a point

about urban and rural funding. There is bluntly a bit of a thing going on

were local councils in rural errors say they are being short—changed and

an urban council say they are being short—changed. I understand the

pressures, whether it is city councils oral councils, we

understand. We cannot magic money that is not there. You have been

pushing for a better deal. Word is his response leave you? He says if

everybody is unhappy, but is there. He is also a member of the Cabinet,

so he cannot announce a change of a funding formula. The pressure that I

and other rural Liberal Democrat colleagues... Word is that leave you

if you cannot influence government policy? Yellow macro we can

influence policy. He is unlikely to announce a final version in an

interview with you. He did not sound very sympathetic. He is holding the

current line. You want it changed? You sponsored an early day motion

and he is not listening. I think we will get some change. I am hopeful

that we will. We are into the cycle of budgets coming up and I think we

will get changes. Is Nick Clegg the man to get that changed? Yes.He

does not seem to be listening. This is not on the floor of the House of

Commons were you would expect a policy change to be announced. We

will keep up that the pressure. You are supporting him? I voted for a

Nick Clegg in the leadership contest. I am happy to support him.

Sarah tether has resigned. She did not call for him to go as leader.

Lord Oakeshott has made similar pronouncements. That is his right to

do. We will see what happens at the conference. He has the support of

the party and my support. You represent Plymouth. Where do you

stand on this issue? I think the funding formula is complex and it is

not particularly transparent. It needs to be reviewed. Urban councils

have particular problems and challenges which mean they do need

more finance. The 15% of cuts across councils means it is having a

devastating effect on services across the country. What kind of

services? What kind of cuts are people expecting to see, bus

services, libraries? Councils will have to stop doing things. It is not

a case that we can keep on business as normal. Councils are having to

make hard decisions. These cuts mean, I think John Hart said, it

would have a devastating effect on the library service, on those

services which people take for granted at the moment. We have

plenty more to discuss. Five new government funded Free Schools have

just opened their doors to pupils in the South West. This week the

scheme, which enables parents to open new schools, came under fire.

Critics say that they are often in places where they are not needed.

One headteacher is blaming a nearby Free School for an increase in his

class sizes. Open this week, this academy. It is a Free School which

means it is not required to teach the National Curriculum or to employ

qualified teachers. While it receives funding from the

government, it is free from local education authority control. Around

60 years seven and year eight pupils attend here and that is having an

impact on schools and colleges nearby. The community college here

has lost 11 pupils from this year year seven's intake. Going into the

next financial year, those 11 pupils we do not have, they are worth £4000

each. That is £45,000 less that I will not get in the budget next

year. It is what an experienced teacher costs in school budgets. In

the summer, we had to make a teacher redundant. School provision

traditionally involved local authorities looking at the

population to ensure there are enough places for pupils. The

government backed Free School system means a new Free School can be

located in an area, regardless of the need for places. We are calling

on government to make sure that new schools are opening in areas of high

demand. We do not want them to open up in areas where there is a

surplus. The vast majority of open mainstream Free Schools are in areas

with the greatest pressure on places, the government says. This

academy's current home is an old primary school which closed two

years ago due to a shortage of pupils. Their ambition is to move to

a larger site with a capacity for 700 pupils, complete with sixth form

by 2016. I appreciate that in the early days, because we are new

provider, that is an initial impact which is going to be quite hard to

take. However, my mind is on what is best for the children of this area

and in actual fact, that is what I expect everybody to be thinking

about, because this is not about bums on seats, this is about what is

right for education in this area and providing a new choice is the

absolute right thing to do. You'll macro what I find difficult about

the school is I categorically do not see the pupil demand. There may be a

demand from parents, but that is not need, that is parental wishes and

none of the secondary schools in this area are full to capacity. We

are not all bursting at the seams, it is a waste of public money, in my

view. In the summer, it emerged that £60 million was spent on helping 72

Free Schools to open. The government said it made no apologies for

spending money on encouraging new people to come forward offering new

ideas and ways to run schools. Joining us now to discuss this we

have Janet Fookes, Tory peer and former Plymouth MP with a background

in teaching. The government says it is not apologising for having new

ideas, should that be the case even when schools that are currently

nearby the schools are losing teachers? I am surprised, because

the act actually requires the Secretary of State to look at the

existing situation and to assess what the impact might be on other

schools in the area. Is it illegal? No, I am saying that the Secretary

of State has that duty and I wonder whether there are other issues that

state in this particular example, there are other factors we do not

know about. Is a desperate need for more primary school faces, it is

this not a waste of money? —— places. The Secretary of State

should not allow this to happen. Are you for Free Schools in general? In

general, yes. I believe in choice and variety of provision. I think

this is a welcome breath of fresh air. Your colleague Nick Harvey

described Free Schools as unwanted and unnecessary, do you agree? In

some areas, they are wanted, like in West London and South London, there

has been demand and I am happy as a member of a Coalition government,

this is a conservative policy, to see if they work and if they can

deliver. What we may be having is too many, too quickly, and one we

look at some of the examples, they seem to be coming in areas where

there just is not the demand, and to me that isn't not a good use of

resources. The problem with not allowing them, is that you only

leave parents with the choice of a bad school. Is that the best thing

for those parents and what happens to the spirit of competition and the

fact that people have to pull up their socks? Government is keen to

work with Ofsted to help the really good schools and to raise the

aspirations of all schools to deliver a better quality education.

There is choice in that area, there are schools around that area, and we

are picking on this example, but the priority ought to be trying out Free

Schools in areas where there is demand and in areas where there is

not, looking at the impact on the existing schools. You are part of

the government, or why are you not doing it? It is a Coalition

government. The Pupil Premium, which is narrowing the gap between people

from disadvantaged backgrounds and people from well off policies, in

order to do that we have to have other concessions. Ed Miliband said

a Labour government would not open any new Free Schools, what is wrong

with them? Jaden Smith says they are good thing. —— Janet Fookes. Free

Schools are opening in places where there is a surplus of places. That

cannot be right. Capital funding has also been cut to build new schools

where they are actually needed by 60%. This means that the sums do not

add up. We want choice for parents and we believe there should be

choice for parents, but there are some problems with this model. The

fact you do not have to have qualified teachers! That cannot be

right. We want quality education, we want to parents involved, but we

have to have those checks and balances and make sure the schools

are provided in the places where they are needed. Can I come back on

that? I believe there are certain specialities were they must have

qualified teacher status, but in the rest, it is to open it up perhaps to

people who have taught in further education or in other colleges were

they do not have that particular status, but where they have a great

deal to offer or even people who have been in structures in the Armed

Forces. It is not to dilate standards, it is to broaden it,

bring in more people who do not have the precise qualification, but who

have a lot to offer. I was going to say that the problem is that Free

Schools have the ability to do things like that, the very

innovative, what happens is that existing really good schools do not

have the same freedoms. That is one of the things that Labour is talking

about, extending those freedoms which allows schools to innovate, to

allow schools to be innovative with the National Curriculum, about where

they get their services from, such as ICT, so that they can provide the

best possible choice for parents. What would you say to that? It seems

that Michael Gove is saying to state schools we will be more

prescriptive, fine new £120 per child if you take them out of term

time, and on the other hand giving a free rein to Free Schools. I think

all teachers should be qualified and I do disagree. This was not a

Coalition policy, it was announced by Michael Gove over a year ago.

That is something we will have to revisit. However, if we have a

limited number of Free Schools, to test this model, and there is clear

public demand, I am happy. I would worry about areas where there is

questionable demand, even from the number of pupils who might attend

it. I have to stop you. The controversial wind farm plans of the

North Devon coast has been back in the headlines. The Atlantic Array

could be the biggest game of its kind in the UK. This week North

Devon District Council voted to oppose the plans, but other councils

have given them a cautious welcome. This couple moved to this quiet spot

on the North Devon coast for their retirement. They now fear their

views will be spoiled and their lives will be disrupted by a planned

offshore wind farm near their property. They are going to have a

10,000 metre emplacement there, where that loss is, whether will

basically be a drilling site. They suggest that the noise will be

inconsequential, but they will have to be bringing up eight cables and

trenches for eight cables through the hard Cliff Rock. The Atlantic

Array would be twice the size of any UK wind farm which is currently

working. Around 240 wind turbines would be built, about ten miles off

the North Devon coast, covering an area of about 77 square miles. This

woman owns a holiday outlet which would overlook the construction

site. I cannot advertise 5—star properties, or when you have a

construction site in front of you and you do not have the fantastic

feels that they have now. Whether I will be able to let the properties

at all or if I have to reduce my prices enormously to try and attract

people, I am certainly going to lose a lot of income. The firm behind it

says it would produce enough electricity for nearly 1 million

homes. We have taken into account feedback from local people as part

of the consultation process and what we are really comfortable about is

that we have found the site and it is the best one in terms of the

area. Opposition to the project is growing. This week, North Devon

Council voted to object to the proposal, raising concerns about the

lack of economic benefit to the area and damage to the beauty of North

Devon and tourism. Despite such concerns, Devon County Council and

storage district Council voted this week not to launch major objections

to the scheme. If this goes ahead, it is not deemed it to be

particularly anti—terrorism and does not seem that people will be put off

from coming down to places like this, because 13 miles off the coast

there are these wind turbines. It is not local councils who will decide

on this big infrastructure projects. The planning Inspectorate will

examine the plans and make a recommendation to the Secretary

State. This local MP has registered to appear at the planning enquiry

after meeting with residents. Yes we are suggesting that we should have a

240 wind turbine array from some of the most protected landscapes and

coastline in our country. That raises serious issues which I hope

the inspector will at that, the is Secretary of State will look that

powerfully as well. Lobby groups say concerns about how these projects

look are outweighed by the green energy and jobs they can bring. Had

you got any sympathy for these concerns? —— had you. It has to be

balanced. We need alternative energy sources. There will be an element of

controversy and that is why we have a planning committees and why it

will go to the planning Inspectorate. What would you prefer?

Would you prefer offshore wind or a wind turbines on land? At the end of

the day, there are hard choices that need to be made. We know we need to

diversify. Should Labour have been making those decisions in the past?

We progress the agenda, maybe. The important thing is these plans are

going before planning committees at the moment and we need to consider

them seriously. It is expensive to produce energy from wind turbines

and they do have a lot of government subsidy, almost to the point but

they are not profitable at all? Anyone technology will not be the

answer. —— anyone. We have got to hold a debate about fracking as

well. I think the fact is whenever you have technology that creates the

energy we all use, it has to come from somewhere, and any method could

be unpopular. Geoffrey Cox does not want it where he is. We have huge

numbers of wind turbine applications in my constituency. It is a matter

for planning authorities. I have discussed it with the council, about

having a strategy, rather than individual elements, because we need

to look at how it affects the landscape. I do think that with

onshore wind, there has been an income into local farms to keep them

viable. We have to balance all of these things to make sure it is a

working countryside, not easy piece for people visit. It is our round—up

of the political week in 60 seconds. Employment gloom in West Cornwall

with the loss of almost 200 jobs at a factory in red wrist. To lose half

the workforce is a tragedy. Unemployment figures provided a

reason to be cheerful with the number of people in the region's

dole queues down 20% year—on—year. Opponents of cuts to Torbay's Fire

service delivered a petition. Yellow matter they have not done their

sons, they need to revisit it. Catching speeding motorists in 20

zones would be easier with better signs, says a counsellor. Every time

I am here, you could get off on a technicality. Exeter City Council's

crackdown on street beggars has met with strong opposition. They are

causing more hassle for the police, more hassle for the local people. A

crackdown on beggars in Exeter, have you ever given money to beggars? I

tend to do exactly the opposite, which is give two schemes which help

homeless people. You have some sympathy? Yes. They were working

with the police and they identify that some of the people who were

presenting themselves as homeless were not actually homeless and were

actually involved in criminal activities. What do you make of

this? We need to support people into a more productive way of life. Some

of them may be buskers, other places like the London Underground, have

looked at supporting people to do busking in the right places in a way

that people enjoy. You can have a balance. It is not about purging

everyone from the streets. Yes to buskers and no to beggars? That is

the Sunday Politics in the South West. Thanks to my guest. Now

the Sunday Politics in the South more than pay is going up. Which

deserves a programme all to itself. In a moment, more from our political

Good afternoon. Nick Clegg says victory for either the Conservatives

Good afternoon. Nick Clegg says or labour at the next election would

put at risk the economic recovery is. Speaking in Glasgow at the

Liberal Democrat annual conference, he said a coalition would allow

Liberal Democrat annual conference, party to balance politics and enable

the government to finish the job of repairing the economy fairly. It is

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

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

dominating blood on their own, you will get a recovery which is neither

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

fair nor sustainable. Labour would same commitment to fairness as

ours, you would get the wrong kind Two 19-year-old woman arrested after

a stabbing on Thursday have been released without charge. Police

a stabbing on Thursday have been trying to discover if there is a

link between the killing and a fire four hours later in which four

Five people are being questioned in connection with that blaze. A Syrian

government minister has described the agreement drawn up by America

country's chemical weapons as a The minister claims the deals helps

the Syrians out of a crisis and others war. The US Secretary of

State John Kerry is in Israel to brief the prime minister, Benjamin

Netanyahu, on the proposal. China and France have also welcomed the

deal, which says Syria has until Friday to submit a competence of

list of its chemical stockpile. Britain's Mo Farah has missed out on

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

He was taking part in the Great North Run between Newcastle and

South Shields. Farrar, who was the favourite following his two gold

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

Kenenisa Bekele in a sprint finish. A carnival atmosphere for the start

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

happened mystically was that it became more apparent that some sort

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

look at this headline from the Sunday Telegraph. That headline

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

that could potentially destroy the Tory lead. Lots of commentators

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

they succeed. Chuka Umunna was shifting the debate are living

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

thousands through other means. But chemical weapons are beyond the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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