14/04/2013 Sunday Politics South

constituency MP. Not just any MP, this one just happens to be the

Prime Minister. And you juggle international summits and weekly

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2186 seconds

today's programme: A day in the life of a local MP, who just happens to

be the Prime Minister. I have been shadowing David Cameron

as he spends a day in his Witney constituency. More on that shortly.

First, let's meet Annette Brooke, the Lib Dem MP for mid Dorset and

North Poole. That is a tricky one. And Paul

Harvey is Labour councillor in Basingstoke and a former leader of

the council. Margaret Thatcher, and it, brought you into politics. She

did indeed. I was extremely unhappy in 1980. I didn't like the way

society was going, and we really discussed going and working in

another country. I thought, maybe I have to do something about it. I

joined the SDP in 1981. And went on protest matches -- marches against

the poll tax. Then you saw the leader of the party you up part of.

I think it is important to be absolutely upfront and see how I and

obviously many of my colleagues did not agree with Mrs Thatcher's

policy. She has to go down in history as being a remarkable

woman. From that point of view, I admire the fact she came from the

background she did and became Prime Minister. I am hoping that all the

coverage we have got at the moment might get a new impetus to more

females across all parties, knowing it is possible to achieve in

politics. Paul Harvey, there does seem to be in North and South split

in some of this. Basingstoke, where you are, and the South of England,

have benefited from privatisation. The North really suffer. There are

pros and cons in Basingstoke. You have this history in the North, and

I was born and bred in Lincolnshire, just in the good from South

Yorkshire. I have seen the impact of her politics. Not the woman, her

politics, on those communities and areas, which were destroyed. Those

wins haven't healed. Those committees haven't recovered fully.

Will this help to heal the wounds open them? It is important after the

funeral that there is an appropriate debate about her politics if that is

what is needed. It is also important we move on. There are genuine issues

that we as politicians today need to address will stop right, let's move

Normal politics has continued even in this very abnormal week. Running

large the county council elections, no less than weeks away. Joining me

from Oxford is Ian Hudspeth, the Conservative leader of oxygen

counsel. We will talk to him soon, but first, we set our reporters out

to take a look at the state of play in the councils in our region.

Dorset is one of the lowest funded authorities in the country. As part

authorities in the country. As part of the economy drive to save more

than �82 million, they are cuts to services, and the council are

continuing to switch street lights at night. Dorset is conservative

heartland. Labour didn't win a single seat last time around, and

would take something seismic to unseat the Conservatives. Whatever

happens, one thing will change. There will be a new leader. The

current incumbent is standing down after seven years and he is also

standing down as chair of the Police and Crime Commissioner. In

Oxfordshire, the number of councils is being cut from 74 to 73. -- 263.

This year, most of the ward boundaries are changing. The UK

Independence Party has upped its presence here since 2009, and there

are more independents standing. The Greens per donation -- strong

showing here traditionally. As to what might decide which way people

here vote, school places and potholes are always high on the

agenda. In West Sussex, the council has been held by the Conservatives

at the last ten elections. In most seats, it is the Liberal Democrats

who are the main challengers. As in much of the South, it is Coalition

partner versus Coalition partner, and the Liberal Democrats are

looking vulnerable to a small swing to the Conservatives in around a

dozen seats. But will the long-running row over adult social

care and the fact the Tories have been making cuts over three years

rather than for help And Labour win the seats they have been eyeing up?

In Hampshire, there are 78 seats up for grabs, and the Conservatives

currently hold 51 of them. It is theirs to lose. However, the unknown

factor is UKIP. This time round, UKIP are putting up candidates in

all but five seats, and remember what happened just six weeks ago in

Eastleigh, when UKIP pushed the Conservatives into third place in

the by-election. UKIP also have candidates in almost half the seats

from the Isle of Wight, at here, independents have stepped forward.

Nine out of 40 seats are filled by council is not aligned to main

parties, and this time round, 35 independent candidates will have

their names on the ballot papers. Lots of independence all over the

region. UKIP as well and the Green party. Ian Hudspeth joins us now.

You have had the Grains for some time, but UKIP will make quite a

difference? There are number of Green candidate 70 County, but what

we will do is have a discussion on the doorstep to say why people

should vote Conservative, because I think some of the issues UKIP are

talking about are not local issues, they are more on the national scene.

Of course, the one party that has promised a referendum is the

Conservative Party, which is the bedrock of UKIP's campaign. It is a

local Ford, but at Coalition level, Conservatives and Lib Dems, people

are looking for an alternative, aren't they? I think at local

level, we have to look at track record. Since 2005, we have had a

Conservative majority in Oxford county council. The council has

moved forward and is really standing on its feet. If people look at our

record, they can see we can deliver. Yes, there are tough economic times,

we have had to make savings, but we have had -- tried to target we are

possible to make managerial savings to keep the front line going.

you are making cuts, whatever the national policies, 80 local level,

your supporters are moving across to UKIP, aren't they? Look at the

number of wards in which they are standing. I think what you have got

to say is, what can UKIP offer? have got a track record and we shall

we can deliver. We are maintaining our highways budget and killing all

43 libraries open across all such -- keeping all 43 libraries across

oxygen open. We're putting money into child protection, so we are

really delivering on our promises. That is what the electorate will

look at. We have provided good services and will continue to do so.

It is cuts that people are thinking about, though? It is. Massive cuts

to services, losing youth workers. That has had a massive impact on

supporting young people. But surely people have to recognise money must

be saved? If you'll get Hampshire, and the amount of land that --

ground that Hampshire owns, they are cutting the front line and halting

those services that are the most honourable. That is the wrong way of

going about this. You have little chance of picking up votes, though.

UKIP have more chance, maybe. Labour just haven't had a presence in

Hampshire. That is not the case. In Basingstoke, we have taken seats of

the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. We are targeting seats

from the Liberal Democrats and Labour at county level. We are

strong across the whole area. We are looking to see -- take seats and be

a genuine challenger. That has set the bar, then. Annette Brooke, we

could debate about Dorset. Street lights have been a huge issue,

haven't they? They have indeed. We accept that has been very tough

times for local Government, but given the restrictions on the

budget, it is establishing priorities. The Liberal Democrat

opposition in Dorset county council have agreed with the fees of the

council tax but have not agreed with the actual priorities. It is all

about thinking about a fairer society, making sure that the cuts

and falling on the more vulnerable, and it is also things like the

street lighting which... Which oppose at a local level, but the

national level, you say we go along the cuts. Now, it is all about

establishing priorities, and that is why they are different manifestoes

between the two parties fighting at local level. We have different

priorities nationally, what we are not in Coalition locally, and we

will be arguing tooth and nail to become an even stronger opposition.

Ian Hudspeth, who is your greatest opponent? We have strong opposition

from the Liberal Democrats, Walsall Labour, they do have some

opportunities. -- but also Labour. We're not taking anything for

granted. We will fight all the seats and we are fighting on our track

record, that is the main thing. We will be fighting in every seat.

could be difficult for David Cameron, with Nigel Farage pushing

him so hard, couldn't it? David Cameron has been very clear on his

policies on Europe. Nigel Farage has been trying to make here to things,

but it is David Cameron who has quite rightly said with the

Conservatives, if we get a majority at the election, we will give people

a referendum. And that may well be that people decide to stay in the

European Union or comet, but we are the only party with that clear

message. Locally, all UKIP proposals are based on that premise. In the

meantime, they can't deliver any of their promises. If you look at their

manifesto, and also a lot of what we are seeing, we are already doing.

But people will look at the national picture as well, what the? This is

the thing with the cuts and hits people are taking, that is what

people will fear. Now, one of the many people out

delivering leaflets for the local elections is the Prime Minister. You

have that right. Despite the impossible task of paying off

Britain's debt and dashing back and forwards to Europe, David Cameron

has been campaigning in oxygen. A sign of desperation, perhaps? Last

week, I spent a whole day with the Prime Minister in his own

constituency. You could easily miss the green door

in Witney high Street. But in the anonymous office upstairs,

Britain's by Minister has arrived for the day. I am hoping to lose a

stone in weight with the walking. That is the sign of a good election

campaign. I was the stone. Yeah, I did. Did you wade through these

things? No, no, I sit in traffic like everybody else. It is a

battered box, that one. Yes, it is. This box holds special melodies. It

went to Brussels when he vetoed the Euro treaty. His daughter Florence

clambered in on his return. I have a brilliant daughter -- picture of my

daughter sitting in the box. Why this was quite funny was this was

the veto I did. She emptied it out and jumped in. The office is can --

deliberately low-key, with a couple of reminders that this is the reason

information for him to take on board. This is a bit of all part of

the country, but it pays its way with small and medium-sized

businesses. You might think there is an advantage when your local MP is

the Prime Minister. The visit today is as much about David Cameron

checking the temperature of local business. Here, they make

rooflights. He wants to know why they are not exporting. How did you

get on with UKTI? Well be helpful, were they any good, what was their

product like and how did they assist you? I can use that information

around the Cabinet table with the head of the UKTI when he comes and

sees me and says everything is brilliant. There is a more jolly

banging our heads going on at nearby Ascott-under-Wychwood. David Cameron

is here to the new playground. Six, five, four, 3... I was amazed he

found time to do this. In the context of the world's problems, it

is a small thing. Do you think he should be doing this? It is not very

long he is here, and it is good for him and the community. They could be

any other dad chatting to parents about the reputation of local

schools, while the children are getting bored. It gets easier, if

that, doesn't it? In the constituency office, the Prime

Minister told me why these days are so important. This is hugely

important. Yes, you have the red box and all the hard work in Downing

Street. But being here and hearing all the cases on the ground from

local teachers and health workers is incredibly valuable. You are hearing

from Google Docs such, though, and people living in other areas makes

not think you understand the problems. If you look at this area,

it has good schools and people are fortunate to live here, but it does

have its problems. There are tough welfare cases, so I don't accept the

idea that because you represent an area of the country that has got

some wealthy people living in it, that you don't understand the

concerns of the less well off. There are hell of a lot of people who work

on low wages or who can't find jobs or are struggling in different ways,

and they want their local MP to understand the problem. Like any

MP, the Paymaster runs a local surgery, with visitors raising

questions from planning permission to international aid and the local

economy. There is also an appointment for foreign journalists,

some of whom have flown in Jenin -- specially. The weight across the

road will the British Prime Minister finishes his surgery with the owner

of a local primer -- abattoir. The leaders of Spain, Germany and Italy

don't have to win votes in a local constituency, but neither do they

get the chance to stay so rooted. Hello. Nice to see you. Banging on

doors with the candidates in local elections. And surprisingly few

daughters -- if you vote us out for a drink. We were just having a quiet

drink in the sun, and all of a sudden, the Prime Minister walks

past. He surprised a local farmer earlier this month, rescuing a sheep

stuck in mud. My protection team, I had left them behind, but the Thames

Valley Police appeared over the horizon. They were in the full black

police outfits with machine guns and everything. I said, guys, put the

guns down for a minute, help me out! He has even got pictures of the

half trend sheep, that his kids call Swampy, on his phone. He sees this

as proof that he can carve out a space for real life away from the

pressures of his job. People want a hard-working Prime Minister, and

they do have one, but they want someone who gets a reasonable

night's sleep every now and again so that you can be on form and taking

decisions in a good, balanced and sensible way. They don't want

someone completely fried and burnt out, because if you are, you will

make terrible decisions. Yes packed a lot into a long day, and as of

abroad tomorrow. But with opinions from Oxfordshire at the back of his

mind. Anette, politics aside, he is

working very hard, isn't he? I think that was very refreshing, seeing him

working like that in his constituency. I am sure that people

right across the country warmed to the fact that the MPs are out there

and really experiencing things first-hand. A very good model. There

is a but coming. No. The Coalition is made up of two distinct parties

and it is important we remember that. The relationship between David

Cameron and Nick Clegg, I think it is important they do reflect the

different perspectives, copper might is have to be made, and, for the

most part, it is incumbent upon members of both parties to actually

respect the fact that compromises are being made. On the whole, I

think the Liberal Democrats have respected the differences, that we

put our foot down, for example, on welfare cuts. Yet, he is pretty

polished, isn't he? I put the question to him there, does he

really understand the problems? Even any wealthy area, an area like

Basingstoke that is prosperous, there are people who are struggling.

It is strange, because you see the image and then you see the people

who are struggling. It goes back to Westminster as the Prime Minister

put through policy supported by the Liberal Democrats. It puts through

the issues of the welfare changes having an impact on the low waged

and those struggling. And he does that, and things, well, I am in

touch. Well, no, you're not in touch. This does damage to our

community. I think there are areas where he is in touch, and I will

pick up on some of the suggestions that changes have been moderated by

the Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems have some of their own policies

through, including the tax cut, which will benefit 24.5 million

people. You still voted for the tax cuts for millionaires, and that says

an awful lot for the people on low wages. I think we should see how

millionaires pay more income tax. Now, it is time for a regular

political round-up in 60 seconds. A judge finally cleared the way for

Portsmouth Football Club to be sold to the supporters trust after years

of uncertainty. The fans group has the backing of the City Council.

Meanwhile, Southampton's culture department was celebrating the

success of this attraction. It beats -- it beat is target with a titanic

amount of visitors. There was a frosty visit from the local MP and

concerns about a large cycling event. It may be worth focusing the

attention on the real dangers, instead of the potential dangers. We

run a safe event. The death of Lady Thatcher meant only low-key

campaigning in the local elections this week. Meanwhile, in

Basingstoke, the party had a candidate who was a relative of Guy

Fox. Will we see fireworks in me? We talked about the choice people

will be making. Councils have more power, other using it wiser? I think

they are in terms of what they have responsibility for. They can make a

difference in several areas. It is really important what Portsmouth

have done in terms of the football club, because it is important to the

local community and what it can achieve. But there are other policy

areas where they really can make a bleak -- leadership role and make a

difference will stop it is about leadership, and I think we saw that

and Eastleigh, where we saw our successful council and the

magnificent by-election result. the huge increase in a number of

people voting for UKIP? There was indeed. What I would like to see

really good leadership, and I would put perhaps as number one, ruble

buses. And Paul is nodding at that. That is all for today. Thanks to my