27/05/2012 Sunday Politics West Midlands

In the Midlands, just because we did not join the euro, does not

mean we're safe. Business leaders warned of creme knock-on effects in

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1681 seconds

Good morning. We're joined by one of Parliament's relative newcomers.

And by a parliamentary veteran who enter the Commons 38 years ago.

Paul Uppal and Lord Grocott of Telford. Paul, the double dip just

got double the power this week. Does that not implied this economic

project by your government is not working? The figures were

disappointing. It is important that the Government does the right thing.

There are other figures. Inflation came in below the expectation. We

had good figures on unemployment last week as well. We always knew

this would be a long hard slog. It is important we do the right thing.

Your party likes to refer to this as a recession made in Downing

Street. Too far, too fast. Is there not something disingenuous about

it? The simple truth is that the economy has flat line. That has

been since George Osborne's budget. Public spending plans of 18 months

ago. There is nothing new about this except that we have gone into

recession now. It has been in a bad way for 18 months. They will try to

blame it on the Eurozone but it is bad government. Did the Lord Jones

said this week that small businesses need to get us out of

the economic dip. You ran a small business. His government doing

enough? You're right. I ran my own business for 20 years. I would

revert to a fellow brat -- fellow Black Country Lad. Sir Mervyn King

said that, when you look at their options of 2010, they have done the

important thing. If you look at all economies, there was not much

option. Coming up, we will be bringing home the trillion -- the

mayhem of the Eurozone. Weeders warm or frightening times ahead. If

the single currency collapses, what will happen?

For our top story, the protest by campaigners as what they see as a

lack of the ethnic verbosity add the stock of -- top of our biggest

local authority. Birmingham City Council was all quite apart from

one-nation number. -- member. The EC this fails to represent the

multi- racial area. If we believe enough is enough. We need to be

represented. Modest in size but determined in their message.

Feelings ran high and outside Birmingham's council house. There

was no welcoming committee. Demonstrations attracted a hard

core of 30 people. Others had joined them as they were listening.

The message to the cabinet, it in no way represents the diversity of

this city. Protesters fear the city's political elite cannot be

culturally competent unless the city's these communities are

represented at the top table. need to make a stand and say,

everyone says we did it chav -- we champion diversity. It is not

reflected and we need to take action to address that. We were

reclaimed power this month in style, taking 29 seats -- 29 seats. The

party says cabinet members have chosen -- are chosen on ability

before colour of skin. There was only one person who came forward.

That person had not the experience to take on the running of the job

within the Cabinet. Yes, we are trying to develop that across this

area. The council doors were shut, symbolic, say the protesters. The

campaign for a black councillor to get keys of the Office goes on.

This in a city where the ethnic- minority will form a majority

within the next few years. He grew up in the Sikh community. Surely a

council must represent all the communities it serves? It is

important for any political executive body to be represented to

four of its constituents. I think, also you want the most capable

people to be there are making decisions. I think there is a

Balance in these things. If you have people who give the impression

they are there because they fell a quarter, but can do the community

relations and political process more harm. A poll I looked at

recently suggested 84 % of the black population of Labour

supporters, this is a good way to alienate your supporters. I agree

that the objective in any representative body were --, you

want to make it as representative as you can. I can only say that

this will always be an ongoing issue. You never get mathematical

precision and things like this. There has been a huge change over

the years. You were kind enough to mention that I was elected in 1974.

The picture of local authority and Parliament, now, in comparison with

them does reflect to a degree the great changes. The air is a way to

go yet. One of the protesters said there is a question of cultural

competence. When you have a wide variety, some of which are not

immediately easy for everyone to understand, it is unfortunate if

they do not have their own representatives. I agree.

Communities do bring something to the political process. They will

bring in sight. They will bring representation which may not

otherwise be the year. There is a broader issue. This resulted in the

Bradford West by-election. Maybe some communities feel the airport

is being taken for a -- taking advantage of. There is always a lot

of complexity when George Galloway is standing in an election. I am

sure this subject is bound to come up when the Labour leader of

Birmingham City Council joins George Aldridge for a chat back.

We have weathered the recession but now is your local axes, the outlook

is frightening. Those are the words of or Warwickshire so it --

Warwickshire exporter. As the Continent's gloomy weather heading

our way? Our political reporter is trying to establish what the

effects might be. For summer may have arrived in the

Midlands but in the Eurozone, the financial storm clouds are

darkening. It may seem a step removed from normal life here, with

Greece does crash out of the euro and return to the drachma, the

resulting chill wind could make things pretty uncomfortable. How is

the region preparing? They have been on standby for some time.

Midlands has always prided itself on having an end -- international

dimension. At the moment for some businesses, there might not be a

direct impact. Their customers or their customers'' customers are

trading in Europe. The if the worst happens, Greece crashes out in a

messy fashion, what will happen? think Greece is a relatively small

part of the European economy and therefore the direct consequences

of Greece crashing out may be relatively limited. The bigger

issue is the contagion effect. uncertainty over there is already

influencing behaviour here. I hear Gore, �500 spot sure about 560

euros. Today it is more like 620. It is not surprising the Post

Office in Birmingham said sales of the currency up 80 %. It suggests

some canny Midlanders are making the best of a bad business. There

is no better time for it -- to book holidays. We have the general

advantage of the EU know been so weak. If Greece were to leave the

euro, what impact would that have on your business? I think Greece

will pull back from the brink. There used to doing that. With the

Olympic Games in 2004, everyone was saying Greece was not ready. At the

last minute, they put everything together. A four companies

exporting to the Eurozone, things could not be more worrying. This

war richer firm supply his gas bill and -- gas --... We sell to someone

in this country, Pito equipment into the equipment and then they

sell that. They might be selling to Greece. They may have problems and

the customer we have today, if they Greek thing goes wrong, we will not

have the customer here tomorrow. For at the worst does happen, and

Greece drops out of the euro, how do you see that impacting on us?

It depends on how well it is removed. If it is properly

controlled, properly support it and done in a sensible fashion, if that

happens, the impact on the confidence and trade will be less.

Developments in Europe is cheaper political landscape for a

generation. Even those who have campaigned for closer integration

will face a new reality. I cannot see a Labour government in 2015

taking the country into you roll. If the Greek text of work to

produce a recession in the Eurozone, that would be very bad for

businesses. A few got what happens in Athens has little to do with

what happens in Birmingham, perhaps it is time to think again. If only

the economic weather when as sunny as that.

Let me give you a comment from my block.

One businessman who does a lot of Trade and the euro says it will be

a disaster for us it currency collapses. You reported

unchallenged as backed. Typical BBC bias. Is that right cost --? Let us

put things in context. Every three months, the Chinese economy grows

by the size of the current economy. In terms of issues in relation to

Europe, it is important to remember it will have an effect on

confidence. Business confidence is, at the moment, in an uncertain

place. It is important to talk about the positive stories as well.

JCB and mature and this week. -- Michelin. Is there any such thing

as succeeded him? -- safe haven. The Labour government had a very

good sense to keep us out of the EU know. I am sure we are pleased

about that. Your question was about the likely effects and if it is

being over-egged to? No, I don't think it is. This is an uncertain

situation. Markets are uncertain. The problems we face economically

are not dependent on you know -- the euro crisis. They depend on

this government. Let us pause. We can hear from someone in business

on -- in Greece. Earlier, he spoke to me over the internet fire escape.

I asked what his impressions where and how it would affect us here.

People do not... People are aware that if there is a problem with

government, on 18th June, that government, if it does not a -- but

you to the austerity measures, there could be problems. How is

this impacting on your approach to your business? One thing is for

sure, some people cannot pay their bills. There are serious problems

over there and we're not selling because we would be worried about

payments. A much of your business do you actually do with Eurozone

countries? A massive amount. 78 %. It is very important to us. What is

the message you are bringing back to your colleagues in the Black

Country business community? There should be some clarity from those

who are leading in the banking system. It is time to get some

confidence to the euro. We have to be aware of this. We have to know

what to do in case the team changes its shape. Greek people are

thinking the same way. I think Peter Matthews' message is

clear. Politicians need to establish some clarity.

It is easy for us to lecture someone like Peter Matthews and say

he is to four caused within the Eurozone. It is tough to trade

within the world? That is absolutely right. You are heard it

from the horse's mouth. Events with our immediate neighbours are

extremely serious. The fact that it all depends on uncertainties like

the outcome of a Greek election. His worry is that this contagion

may spread. He is finding that, in Spain, the first law to pay the

bills. I think the important point for our European partners is that

we have reached that -- we have not reached the point where they need

to make up for break-up. And the last few years, we have seen as a

percentage of our exports, from 50 % to 40 %. And we have to do more

for those countries. We have been talking about the work in that the

Middle East and India. Richard Welford reports on the

Olympic torch. Carrying the Olympic flame and stop

-- in style. Also in the spotlight, Tom Watson.

Outspoken critic of News International. He had this

admission for the Leveson Inquiry. At various points along the way, I

thought I would stand down from Parliament and get away from it.

Safe and well, aid worker John Sorbo was released from captivity.

He was taken at the end of last month.

Good news for one of the most dilapidated schools and Midlands,

Richard Lee Primary in Coventry. It will be rebuilt with government

money but the majority of schools are left disappointed.

Should Midlands the ambulance have to pay VAT on fuel. --?

Your party wants a temporary that cut across the board. Air ambulance,

or you are no-brainer? Her de say no to the it -- to the ambulance?

Can I advise the present government, it is wasting a large sum of money

on referendums and directly elected mayors. How about scrapping the

elections for the police commissioners in November if?

challenge due to be fully respond to three point. Everyone thinks the

ambulance does a wonderful job. There are some concessions in terms

of fuel duty that they pay. In terms of the line of work that they