10/06/2012 Sunday Politics South

In the South: How do the people of Chipping Norton feel about being in

the middle of the phone hacking allegations, thanks to the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1710 seconds

influential group of politicians Welcome to Sunday Politics South,

my name's Peter Henley. On today's show: The Oxfordshire town that's

given its name to a group of journalists and politicians who

supposedly run the country - how does Chipping Norton feel about its

recent notoriety? And we'll be talking to Dr Evan

Harris, who's part of the group Hacked Off about what the Leveson

Inquiry's revealing about the relationships between politicians

and the press. More on that in a minute. First though, let's meet

the two guests who'll be with me for the next 20 minutes. Sean

Woodward is the Conservative leader of Fareham Borough Council, and

Phil Wood, who's the South East regional secretary for UNISON. You

are also one of the people hoping to be selected as one of the new

police and crime commissioners. Your slogan focuses on call crime

fighting. We do say putting Tom Winsor in it as Inspector of

Constabulary focusing on that? have an important role to play.

There has been a perceived cosiness, but we always have senior police

officers inspecting service -- serving police officers. What about

Police Commissioners with military experience? You might equally say

they have performed an operational role, which is for the police

constable. I think it is important to have people that have not

formally been commanding thousands of men. What does UNISON think of

this? The important things for the police is, we ask Police

Commissioners to make sure they have reinstate those from my

services that have been badly run down and the last two years of cuts.

I hope they will focus on public safety, security, that seems to

have had its edge taken off it. Modernisation is also needed, isn't

it? Modernisation is always needed, but I am not sure how one of the

most modern things in the police service has been community police

service officers. There have been taken away by their hundreds. That

was but of modernisation. They have taken them away. If you made

promises, to your election, we do get the money to keep them? It is a

high priority. The whole issue is, if you had police officers sitting

behind desks, carrying out roles that others could carry out, that

is a problem. Uniforms on the street give people public

reassurance is. That is the only way he deter crime. Police out on

the streets, not sat behind desks. The phone hacking allegations and

subsequent Leveson Inquiry are having far-reaching consequences

for MPs and the press. Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire has been

thrown into the spotlight because of the supposed wheelings and

dealings that went on between the influential set of residents there.

In a moment, we'll be discussing what the lasting effects of Leveson

might be. But first, how do the community of Chipping Norton feel

about ending up in the middle of it The dealings between the residents

of this little market town have led to revelations that have been a

firecracker underneath the practices and culture of our

politicians, press and police. It is here that the so-called Chipping

Norton said went for tea at each other's houses, where David Cameron

cent those cosy texts, and where Rebekah Brooks looked after her a

police horse. So, how well are the locals are acquainted with their

high profile neighbours? We are not part of it, I can assure you that!

Your are not a member of the club? No. Where is the best place for

bumping into them? Sainsbury's! town's high street is not teeming

with celebrities on every corner, but still, the name of Chipping

Norton has become synonymous with the whole phone hacking affair.

has made us out to be selfish and self-centred, which is untrue.

Chipping Norton is just a normal little town in England. It seems to

be quoted on every other programme. It is famous now! It is, yes.

those certain people are being scrutinised more than ever before.

Calling into question the whole relationship between the newspapers

and government. What you think about the relationships between

people here? It is very intriguing. All thoughts -- all sorts of things

get discussed at dinner-parties which should not be revealed to me

-- media. Just because you are Prime Minister, does not mean you

are entitled to privacy. Something has to seriously change. They would

get away with it, no doubt! Because they are part of the Chipping

Norton set. Almost daily, the Leveson Inquiry has brought a new

twist. But when the dust settles, what remains?

We've heard quite a bit from various members of the Chipping

Norton set at the Leveson Inquiry. Someone else who's also been there

a lot - though not to give evidence, I should add - is the former

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrat, MP Dr Evan Harris, who's now part of the

Hacked Off campaign, and joins us now from our Westminster studio. We

were minding our own business, in Chipping Norton, until the press

got hold of it. All sorts of things discussed at dinner parties that

should not be revealed and the media. Do you think we have learned

any more about a cosy club in politics? I disagreed with the

resident who said that Prime Minister has are entitled to

private conversations with leading businessmen and women with public

interest matters behind closed doors where deals are done which

may be unfair on the rest of us. They may involve discussions that

impact on the corruption of the police, the exploitation of victims

of crime and lead to the undermining of proper parliamentary

democracy. One of the good things about the Leveson Inquiry is

delighted has cast on these murky dealings they have taken place

between two very secretive, powerful blocs - the politicians

and media executives. We are not talking about relationships with

journalists, we are talking about relationships with multinational

business people. I am sorry that Chipping Norton has been caught in

the crossfire, but we must make sure this will not happen and the

future. It is corrupting to our political culture. We have seen

some of the evidence brought out. But do you think Labour some will

come up with something for the future, which would change the way

people operate? -- Levison. I am confident it will come up with a

better system. That is, and the ability of politicians to have

secret communications and to meetings. I think this is just a

cosy club. There is nothing wrong with people having private, cosy

relationships except when they are public servants, paid by us, making

decisions, for example about whether our media will have more

competition or not, or whether there is a deal whereby if you do

this, and make sure the chief executive of my company is allowed

to buy another company, then we will support you at your election.

There a very few people who would argue that is not wrong. Lord

Levison will come up with something that is better than nothing. The

key question is whether the Polish poet -- politicians or be forced by

public pressure to implement this. The balance has to be kept between

having a free media and making sure there are checks and balances to

ensure there is not corruption, either the police or political

class. A -- do you think the Leveson Inquiry will do its job?

The fact that this information has come out is vital, and although we

are critical of the Prime Minister and Culture Secretary, at least he

had the courage to call the inquiry because it looks as if he has been

a particularly dodgy. But as he has said, the music stopped in this

game of musical chairs when he was a Prime Minister. Tony Blair and

Gordon Brown were up to their necks in it, as was John Major and

Margaret Thatcher. It is good this information is coming out, and I

reject the idea that the recommendations will be draconian

and we will lose a free press. We need to make sure good

investigative journalism, prevalent in the newsrooms of BBC South, for

example, is allowed to flourish. But illegal and unethical activity

is clamped down on. Now, is it the long overdue re-

introduction of national service, giving young people a much-needed

bit of backbone? Or a sticking plaster on youth unemployment? A

"summer school for middle class kids", as some critics would have

it. The National Citizen Service was the Prime Minister's idea, but

as Nicola Murray reports, the jury's still out on whether it will

Team work, discipline, duty, discipline. These words might sound

old-fashioned, but they are part of a solution to get a modern problem.

David Cameron speaking after last year's riots. Part of the solution?

Notching up a course for teenagers. It lasts three weeks, costs �50,

and 30,000 teenagers will take part. I got asked if I wanted to do it. I

thought it would be an opportunity. I thought I would go for it. It was

very good. This goal completed a course last year. I usually work on

my own. People put negativity on the youth, but we are on the other

side, showing how good for you can be. The scheme is open to 16 and

17-year-olds. This is something you can put down on your CV. They took

part in a development programme, stating they have mixed with young

people, got involved with public figures, the public sector and

their community, and done something positive. That could be building a

community garden, helping a youth service with young people, finger

painting, making small cakes. It has shown young people can do

something by themselves. Government targets for the national citizen's

service are ambitious - 8,500 young people took part last year. For the

first time ever this year, the national citizen's service is

available on the Isle of Wight. 60 places are up for grabs. But only

half have been snapped up. We have struggled to sell it to our

students, mainly because of the timing and the cost. �50 is quite a

lot for a young person. And selling the idea to young islanders comes

at a time when they are twice as likely to be unemployed as someone

the same age living on the mainland. To them, it seems like a three-week

programme, all very good, but what is in it for them at the end? What

they get a job at the end of it? Last year's national citizen's

service cost the Government �1,300 per person. A report says that is

too expensive. Despite that, page is holding down two jobs and going

to college. What would you say to people that say the skills sound

good but one I help you get a job? It is not true. It gives you so

much teamworking confidence. Youth unemployment has never been so bad.

Around one million young people are out of work. The question now is

whether a volunteering scheme is Is a replacement? If you want to

help young people get jobs, the best thing to do is to develop an

economy with job opportunities. The Duke of Edinburgh scheme, for

example, has been a very good scheme. Maybe, someone should put

more into than advertise that. Anything that is being done the

young people facing a hopeless situation is good. Perhaps it is

giving them hope? �1,300 a person sounds like a lot of money. It does

sound a bit steep. The I'd be here is that all young people in the

country will have this opportunity. -- the idea here. Only half of the

people on the Isle of Wight are taking it up, though. There is

promotion needed. When people on the Isle of Wight become aware of

it, it will not become a problem. hope it is not false hope. We saw

Nick Clegg earlier in the week to clean about apprenticeships, and

one of the economy shops where they take on so-called apprentices and

stop them behind their own tales. - - earlier in the week talking.

million youth unemployment! It is shocking. The trend has been it in

the wrong direction. It is a great scheme, and I think there will be

greater criticism if the Government did nothing.

Now our regular round-up of the political week in the South in 60

seconds. This week, as you might expect - tinged as everything seems

Abingdon Town Council wins the prize for the most unusual Jubilee

celebration chat -- throwing buns. Thames Water it may lift its

hosepipe ban. On the water, three Queen's lead the Jubilee in

Southampton. Vince Cable was in the port to emphasise British exports

successful stock you have got to think globally. But it was imports

causing trouble in Oxford - 22 Olympic torch bearers. Locals were

left out. It was for us, the British people. The House of

Commons proved it is a less local economy - they are out sourcing

The House of Commons switchboard is amazing, isn't it? People are

pinning up for the sake of it. If you are doing something, you have

got to outsource it. -- people are doing it. The local council had

outsourced their personnel functions to capita, and when they

came to making people of London, this simply did not have the money

to do with it. -- at making people redundant. The potential is there

as well, but quality is the most important thing. If you can get

more for less, that is great. If you cannot, you need to think very

seriously about it. We do not outsource everything and anything,

we deliver in house at the very good price. What about those

Olympic runners? Earlier in the week, I met the torch bearers from

Fareham, and running elsewhere. It was a strange thing. We have got

many people were very proud to carry the Olympic torch, and this

is coming through a lot of towns - people are not carrying it through

their local towns. People are coming to Fareham from elsewhere to

carry the torch through Fareham, which is a strange.

That's the Sunday Politics in the South. Thanks to my guests, Sean