15/09/2013 Sunday Politics West Midlands

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 them 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 are full-time. Full-time

unemployment, up -- full-time employment, up 94,000. This is a

short time frame. It is since the recovery began. Half the jobs that

have been created since May 2010 have been part-time jobs. Roughly

107,000 people are working part-time 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 the

uneven spread of this across our economy. In places like the

north-east and north-west, the Humber, the east of England, they

have seen unemployment increase. I 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 our

economy so that we have a long-term, sustainable model of

growth. That is why we need a comprehensive industrial strategy

that all of government works towards. Your party conference is

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

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 votes. Under Ed Miliband's

leadership, the Labour Party have votes. Under Ed Miliband's

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 Hello, once again from the Midlands.

And we're joined today by two MPs from opposite side of the political

divide and opposite sides of one constituency boundary. On the blue

side of the line, Paul Uppal who is the Conservative MP for

Wolverhampton South West. He is in David Cameron's inner circle as a

member of the Downing Street policy group. And on the other side, the

red side of the line, Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South

East. He served as Lord Mandelson's number two the business department

in the last Labour government. Good to have you both with us. And

indeed, it is in Wolverhampton that jobless figures are an increasing

worry, whatever your politics. The latest statistics remain stubbornly

above the national average and all the Hampton itself, the percentage

of people aged between 16 and 64 who are claiming job—seeker's allowance

last month, it is 7.2%, the third highest in the country. So the last

thing the city needed was the announcement of a loss of 1000 jobs

from the council over the next 18 months as the local authority tries

to save £89 million. The scale has surprised people and their is some

genuine anger and upset. We are talking about people's livelihoods.

Potentially 50 households in every ward in the city losing an income.

That is not something that can be taken lightly. Paul, you see the

pain that is being handed down by the economies that your government

is inflicting on local government. In your own home city which is

already struggling. People but we'll be watching the programme who are

already struggling. People but we'll be watching worried about the news

that came out this week. I was heartened by one of the chief

executive said, we will try to take this forward in terms of

redundancies and maybe early retirements. But it is very

challenging but these are difficult economic times and Wolverhampton has

to stand on its feet and the country as a whole. Difficult economic

times, Pat which we no —— which we understand austerity will continue.

It is a tough time for local authorities. The announcement this

week of 1000 job losses has been a body blow in Wolverhampton, a city

which already has high unemployment. It shows sharp relief, the talk of

recovery in recent weeks but it is very patchy. Those families in

Wolverhampton, seeing the site of ministers getting out the bunting

and claiming that the economy has turned a corner, this will feel like

they are in a different world. Where the Chancellor's words out of

place? Part of it is creating confidence and I agree with Pat, it

is patchy but you have to do the right thing in politics and

unfortunately it is going to be up and down, it will not be an easy

turnaround but look at the positives. As we have been hearing,

some more positive news about the economy, production has restarted at

the London Taxi Company in commentary while Jaguar Land Rover

announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a £1.5 billion investment in a

new aluminium bodywork factory in Solihull creating 1700 jobs but can

a local workforce really take advantage of a growth that is on

offer? With this additional 1700 people, we will have employed 11,000

new people into the Jaguar Land Rover business to support our

worldwide growth. It is a challenge constantly to have the right sort of

skills and for every job but we produce or build, there will be

another four in the supply trade within the UK. That is the issue,

Pat. Getting people through with the right skills. We have a lamentably

low skills base here. This is great news, Jaguar Land Rover is a great

British success story. The latest jobs come on top of 9000 new jobs

announced in the last couple of years. I am delighted with the

progress but you are right, we have to make the most of what is perhaps

a once in a generation opportunity for manufacturing industry in the

West Midlands. That means everybody — schools, colleges, universities

and businesses in the supply chain — have to raise their game

collectively so that we commit the skills challenge. Isn't that

challenge really a bit of an approach to both the parties, in a

way, Paul, to be running local education authorities, successive

governments, and other factors. We have one in four people in

Wolverhampton who have no form of qualifications. There has been a

heritage of low skills environment, and as a government we are doing

things to address that. I have to be honest, this ship has been selling

in one direction for a long time. Under successive administrations, ?

PaulIt is really serious this because if we defend things, we deny

opportunity and that is a terrible thing to do. Coming up, caring for

less. Why Staffordshire County Council has transferred almost 1000

adult social care workers over to the NHS in the hope of saving £44

million in just three years. We will have more on this a little later in

the programme. I no sooner do MPs return to their

conspiratorial corridors in the Commons than they are whisked away

again for some enforced team bonding to get themselves back on message.

Party conference season is again on us. The Green party have been in

pole position in Brighton while the Liberal Democrats and descended on

Glasgow. In the first of my interviews with each of the main

party leaders, I began by asking the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg,

that unemployment. It has been going down almost everywhere else in

Britain for almost all of this year but not here.

It is not a problem unique to the West Midlands, in a sense that what

is happening is job losses we are seeing in the public sector, we need

to make sure they are more than compensated by extra jobs in the

private sector. In a nutshell, that is the problem facing the country

and the West Midlands. Nationally, the good news is about 500,000 jobs

lost in the public sector, three times that created in the private

sector. What we need to make sure is that that spotlight on private

sector job creation happens in the West Midlands. There are some good

signs thousands of jobs have been created or protected by the regional

growth fund, investment, we have got this announcement from Jaguar Land

Rover. But they cannot get people with the right skills. I will come

onto that. It is one of the reasons why I remain a keen advocate of

high—speed rail two. We will create about 50,000 jobs at that gets going

on the HS2 project in the West Midlands. So those are the reasons

why we need to press ahead with those projects and schemes,

encourage investment and as he correct the identified, work hard

through apprenticeships. Provide the skills to youngsters so that when

those jobs become available, it is local youngsters who have a real

crack at the web. City deals are one of your pet projects for getting

growth and jobs going in major areas. Lots of talk in the Midlands

that a second wave expected shortly for Stoke, the Black Country,

Coventry and Warwickshire will not be anywhere near as generous as the

first lot that went to bigger cities like Birmingham. Lets wait and see.

There is not a great pot of cash that you can suddenly handover but

there is a significant push which are making sure will happen,

ensuring that Whitehall gives up powers to communities in the West

Midlands are that jobs can be created in the West Midlands. There

is a general feeling moving towards conference season, with your party

conference, that there is a quickening of pace towards the next

general election. We look at the most recent evidence in our part of

the cut country, your party was obliterated in Staffordshire but

made gains in Shropshire and Gloucestershire. Does this indicate

you are retreating as a national party and reaching out to new voters

and going back to be locally focused pavement politics in traditional

areas? What it does suggest is that where we are able to get out on the

doorstep and expect our message, that we are the party that has held

our nerve to make sure the economy can turn a corner, the recovery that

is happening wouldn't have happened without us, we are delivering a

fairer tax deal, delivering apprenticeships on a scale never

seen before, the biggest cash increase in the state pension. When

we get the opportunity to explain that, in other words that we are the

party that uniquely combines to create a stronger economy and a

fairer society. Then we get our message heard. But we must work hard

to make our message heard. Thank you.

Nick Clegg, and I will be talking to each of the main party leaders over

the next couple of weeks. As they prepare for their own party

conferences. Pat, the one thing clear that was the strong support

for HS2. That contrasts somewhat with the slightly less optimistic

language of Ed balls who said he was not sure there was a look blank

cheque for HS2? He was pretty clear that there are huge advantages in

such a project for the country. We can shrink the country in terms of

the regional disparities between North and South if we can make it

quicker to get from different regions. When the arguments but

isn't it flaky? It cannot be a blank cheque. I am in printable in favour

of this project but I am concerned about the rising cost —— I am in

principle. Everything in the economic times we have now has to be

affordable and HS2 to win public acceptability has to pass the

hurdle. Successive prime ministers including David Cameron and stuck

their neck out on HS2 and we know there is a rebellion among your

colleagues who have got constituencies on the line. Can you

see this great consensus at the top of British politics, Paul, falling

apart? It is a contentious issue as you say but we are serious about

tackling the issue about the country being concentrated around the

south—east and London, HS2 will be part of fixing the problem. These

figures are constantly changing. What I would say is it is important

that the benefits are put forward about the project as well as the

opposition and the talk against it and the argument on the cost side.

There is so much confusion at the moment, people do not have a final

figure about what it will cost and what the benefits are. Let's turn to

the pre—election battlefield that I mentioned. At the moment, in this

region, all of these marginal seats, you want to pick up an

overall majority yourselves and the Tories are fighting the same

challenge against the liberal Democrats, UKIP and the rest. But

the polls are relatively finely balanced so what really can you do,

Paul first, to tilt the argument? —— Pat first. Many people think that

when the election comes, it will be about who is best for the economy so

people will have to judge what has happened and we have got early and

welcome signs of a recovery and also three last year —— lost years when

he lost out to competitors. We have a long way to go. Paul, how can you

pick up those votes in areas of high unemployment? In every election, the

economy has been overwhelmingly the number one issue and ultimately,

both my fate and Paul's will hinge on these things —— Pat's. The way

that elderly and infirm people are cared for, they remain as

independent as possible and don't tie up hospital services. Almost

1000 adult social care workers have been transferred into the NHS so

that they can work alongside medical teams to provide a one—stop shop,

potentially saving millions of pounds. BBC Radio Stoke's political

reporter Phil McCann has the details.

Joan has had polio for 60 years. She coped without much help for most of

that time but now she needs a hand getting out of bed. She gets that

from a variety of different people who, until last year, will have

worked for two different organisations. Her social care

assessor would have come from the council, so would the occupational

therapist. But her physiotherapist worked for the NHS. It meant

separate visits, separate paperwork and application. So no you are all

part of one team, what difference is that made? Before we were wanting,

we would go out and do individual assessments I would do an assessment

based on an occupational therapy point of view and C would go in and

do a social care assessment. We might come back to the building and

need to refer to a nurse physiotherapist. It quite

disjointed. There was a lot of anticipation. But it run smoothly.

We went into work one day and we got a new employer, we did not do

anything different, we got on with our jobs. Has it made a difference

for Joan's family? Much better for us. They came as a team and she

liked them and after a few days, she got used to their ways of working

and they all worked together. With the different aspects of what they

did for Joan. Around 1000 Staffordshire County council

workers... But the council are still responsible for paying for social

care. Both organisations could save £44 million over three years.

Whether that figure will be achieved was questioned by a scrutiny

committee earlier this year but savings are being delivered. Without

question, a really good, positive thing to do. Our service users like

it and it streamlines processes that do not need multiple assessments.

Staffordshire is now doing what the care minister once County to do in

the future. It makes sense, we both go down the same path and from

experience, we knew that we would be able to save money which we could

then both reinvest in the services that we do. But because social care

is means tested, groups like age UK are concerned about how this idea

could work if it is scaled up nationwide. The Government wants

more health and social care integration but is stopping short of

suggesting that the kind of full merger which is being embraced in

Staffordshire. It is Labour that want to see this model under a

Conservative council being rolled out across the country.

Politics is full of ironies, Labour—controlled Stoke holding back

from an initiative from Tory controlled Staffordshire but which

Ed Miliband clearly supports. This is another example of Labour being

in a bit of a twist. People have got independent minds in politics! Very

independent in Stoke! It could be a good idea and indecent of

situations, the more that you can shape care around the patient and

carers and families and the less bureaucracy and the less that they

have to tell the same story over and again to different parts of the

system, the better. So in principle, this looks a good idea. Do As UK

have a point in that given that there is a fundamental difference

when NHS is free at the port of need, where there is means testing

you are eroding an important principle? On a personal point, used

to care for my own paternal grandmother and would see this at

some point. I hear what is concerning people on this area but

this whole initiative is talking about value for money and as we were

seeing in the peace there, an ambition to save £44 million. —— in

the package there. As a whole, it is a very positive initiative and will

provide value for money and ultimately care for people who

really do need it. And yet there is an inhibition on the part of Jeremy

Hunt, the Health Secretary, he does not want to go to much further

because he is worried about compromising the clinical

commissioning groups, slight ambiguity in your position. What

they are doing is piloting five schemes starting now and they will

basically take forward best practice. One of the best

innovations, they will see them. If you get people cared for at home and

value for money, it is a win—win situation. Waqar White I have to say

that while some local Government leaders from your side, Pat, have

been talking about the end of local Government as we know it, Philip

Atkins there in Staffordshire as been saying all along that there are

ways of smarter working, and if this is an example of where you go, some

people might say it is a jolly good thing. One of the things you must

remember is that there is a different impact on the reduction in

Government grant depending on where you are. Urban areas hit much harder

than some rural areas. I think councils have tried to do their best

to find cuts that will not hurt the public and many have been successful

in doing it. When you are into the fourth and fifth years, it gets more

difficult and that is where Wolverhampton got when they had to

announce 1000 job losses. From an NHS spending point of view, in

Wolverhampton, you get central Government spending of £1800 per

head which compares to 40 in Staffordshire. It is about how you

spend the money, wisely and smartly. For the Cliff —— will block with in

the Green party is saying that over the years, local Government services

squeezed by both your parties, privatisation —— will Duckworth. You

are not the parties on the side of ordinary people, the Greens are, a

quick way to the Greens there. When we were in Government, there were

substantial increases in central Government grants, it was a

different picture to today. You have to look at the reality. In the 21st

century, you look at value for money. That is a driver regardless

of politics. To be continued! Now for our regular round—up in the

political week in the Midlands in 60 seconds, brought to us today by our

Coventry and Warwickshire political reporter, Sian

There was the good, as a new project to tackle underachievement in

schools was a launched in Birmingham.

"City Year" uses volunteer mentors to help motivate the pupils.

Headteachers want to buy this for their schools, they want to partner

with us and they see the value of having young people as a resource in

the school. Then the bad: a record £14 million

fine for the accountancy group Deloitte for advising the collapsed

MG Rover Group as well as the Phoenix Four directors who bought

it. And then it got ugly, after UKIP MEP

Mike Nattrass resigned from his party and attacked its candidate

selection policy. There were opposing reports, too, about

high—speed rail. The Public Accounts Committee said the benefits of the

scheme were dwindling, as costs were rising but the Government published

research claiming it'll boost the economy by £15 billion a year. And

why was it that only 5% of the recipients in the last Queen's

Birthday Honours List were from the West Midlands? We're now being urged

to learn how to nominate more members of the community.

Ellie Simmonds and Kay Alexander, both among the more popular

Midlanders who've featured on the Honours List. Of the many people

would feel that we need more like that, Paul, and fewer examples of

party political patronage that we keep seeing. There is absolute merit

in that. We mentioned before, I have lived in the area and the Black

Country all my life and I think sometimes we are a bit too

understated, that Black Country modesty. What should we do to get

more people involved? Bring people forward. There are lots of great

cases of people being involved in the community, we need to champion

that more and be loud and proud. These are things that don't really

always pass the smell test for both tests. —— for both parties. Most

nominations of people that people would celebrate, and Nightingale,

and they should be celebrated by everybody. I think we should put

people forward, people who have done service to the community. You will

have to give out a few more gongs to the unions want Ed has sorted them

out. Lord McCluskey, what next? That is way above my pay grade! We need

to champion local heroes, I agree with Pat. We can provide a role

model for many young people. Thanks to you both. Incidentally, tomorrow

on BBC One, inside out will be focusing on the stresses and strains

in accident and emergency departments. The cameras went inside

Heartlands Hospital in East Birmingham where it was so busy, it

which the Government's targets on waiting times. Join us tomorrow at

7:30pm here on BBC One in the Midlands.

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.