04/11/2012 Sunday Politics Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Coming up on this week's programme: Is it time for a limit on the

number of turbines on the Yorkshire landscape? The energy minister has

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2062 seconds

angered the green lobby by calling Good morning. Coming up: If we're

asking whether there is a haze over the government's energy policy.

Well a minister's comments halt the expansion of new wind farms?

And will be looking at the race to become South Yorkshire's police and

crime commissioner. First, let's ensued is our guest, Julien's met.

He is the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon. -- Julian Smith.

And at Diana Johnson. Julian, do you think there should

be a limit to the number of wind farms? Well, it is in important

part of our energy strategy, but the government quite rightly

reduced the subsidy on wind and myself and other MPs representing

the most beautiful parts of our country are lobbying for further

cuts, because the way that some of this activity has gone on, I think,

needs to be looked at carefully. Diana Johnson, do you sympathise

with those who don't one when term by its -- who don't want wind

turbines to be built near their homes? Welcome this week we have

had different views from different politicians and I think the

government needs to get their policy straight as to what they

actually mean by having an Alison it -- an energy policy. They need a

consistent, long-term energy policy that is thought through. We don't

have that at the moment. The green energy lobby has accused the

Government of putting out mixed messages following comments made by

the Energy Minister and Lincolnshire MP John Hayes. Mr

Hayes claimed we'd had enough of wind turbines peppering the

countryside and it was time to Enough is enough, those were the

words used by John Hayes in an outspoken newspaper attack on the

onshore wind industry. His comments have been welcomed by campaigners

in Lincolnshire who are trying to stop new wind farms being built in

County. There needs to be a clear guide from government. In

Lincolnshire, wind farms are a major threat to the landscape. They

are predominant structures and with the numbers coming through they

will change the character of the landscape. Many Conservative MPs

believe there should be a strict limit on the number of these things

springing up across our countryside. But some of John Hayes's coalition

colleagues take a different view. The Liberal Democrat Energy

Secretary Ed Davey MP was forced into a hasty clarification of

government policy. The policy has not changed. So there will still be

lots of investment in onshore wind farms. The argument came on the day

that the former Tory deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine unveiled

his report on the economy. He called on the government to adopt a

consistent and clear energy policy in order areas such as at the

Humber region to take advantage of the offshore wind industry.

Business is a momentum game. Unita have positive momentum if you are

going to achieve growth. Having senior ministers coming up with

frankly quite bizarre comments just act as a big break on our industry.

But when Mr Hague is returned to the comments on Thursday, he

appeared to adopt a less hostile tone. -- Mr Hayes. It is absolutely

right that we should have renewables as part of that mix. It

helps us to meet our emission targets. And it is also good fit --

good for consumers because it guarantees are energy security.

they ended a week of differing opinions on the future of energy in

our green and pleasant land. Julian Smith, can you clarify the

government's the point? Do they want to see more wind turbines or

fewer wind turbines as the Tories want? I as I said at the start,

onshore wind is part of a set of commitments, but there is a call

for evidence on the subsidies and the ways that that sector is

working. People are worried, communities across the region are

your viewers are looking at this programme on are very worried about

the way wind farm companies are behaving. Diana Johnson, is it good

to have a variety of the points at the heart of government? Of course

it isn't. We are keen to get these companies into a city around a

offshore wind energy, and this uncertainty at the heart of

government, the contradictions, it's very unhelpful in an area

which is desperate for jobs and investment for the future. I think

it is just a shambles and the government have to get a grip and

be clear about what their energy policy actually is. John Hayes was

just making up policy on the hoof, wasn't he? No not at all. There are

thousands of pounds spent on subsidies to wind developers. And

it is right that that money is analysed and we look at whether it

is being spent efficiently. We are absolutely right to look at this.

Unfortunately, Labour don't really see the value of analysing in Dep

the use of taxpayers' money. -- in depth. Wind energy, Denner, that

does need a massive amount of public subsidy. -- Diana. Onshore

wind energy is actually one of the cheapest ways. Offshore is much

more expensive, but with Investment going in, hopefully that price will

go down under time. So it is worth the investment. The new energy

sources you have to invest early on, but in the longer term you get

clean energy and secure energy, because unless we are able to

manufacture RN energy in this country, we rely on other countries.

-- our own energy. A we need an energy bill, that has been delayed.

It is on its way. I'm sure you welcome the reason is that

investments in the nuclear sector. You can see the pattern of this

government. What I can see a pattern of his shambolic, to be

honest. What we need is a certainty a rant and renewables. Your

government said it would be the greenest government above. If that

is the case, the investment has to take place. Even Lord Heseltine is

saying you do not have a consistent energy policy. The word is

consistency, isn't it? Well, we have a green deal, a Green

Investment Bank. Labour did not do that. We are investing across a

range of sectors, not just onshore wind which is bothering communities

across this region. Now onto the elections for police

and crime commissioners, which take place a week on Thursday. Nowhere

is policing under the spotlight more than South Yorkshire. In the

latest of our street corner debates, James Vincent will be speaking to

the candidates at Hillsborough - the scene of the 1989 disaster,

which has caused so much controversy in recent weeks. But

first James finds out why a former home secretary believes there could

be tough times ahead for whoever One person is about to take charge

of South Yorkshire police while force is under unprecedented focus.

Hillsborough at may have been over 20 years ago, but handling of

police statements at the time could now mean fresh inquiries. And there

are also new questions about how the force is dealing with crimes

like grooming in Rotherham. What surprises me is the fact that we

have had so few prosecutions by South Yorkshire of those who are

the perpetrators of grooming. Why is that? Be a recent poll for the

BBC suggested that over three- quarters of people in South

Yorkshire Bank their police force's reputation had been damaged by what

was uncovered in the recent So, there is some rebuilding to be

done. But one former Home Secretary says the police have already earned

the but -- the public's Trust back. A I think public confidence in my

own forced to go long time to restore after 1989. And I am very

keen that the transparency we have today and the contact the we have

been building trust and confidence in community enables us to take a

step forwards, not backwards. The context has changed considerably.

Trust is always a big issue during elections, but this is the first

time and we've gone to a ballot box to choose how our police force is

run. David Blunkett says a new police commissioner must insist on

absolute transparency. But he is not convinced the idea of

installing a politician above a policeman will work. I think we are

building in the potential for friction between an individual who

says, I've been elected, and a chief constable who says, I'm in

charge. That could lead in some circumstances not only did infusion

in the ranks and police officers not knowing who is directing and

you is really in charge, but confusion would the public as to

who they turn to. I think that would be a mistake. David Blunkett

insisting on absolute transparency there. How would the English

Democrats do that if you are elected? I think the best thing is

to have a regular meetings in each of the areas, specifically the big

towns and the local communities. What about the UKIP party? Were

needed investigation, truth and prosecutions. Let's not forget,

Hillsborough was 23 years ago. What we need to do is get out there and

make it clear that the fantastic job that police are doing is

happening. We need transparency and honesty, honesty from candidates.

We don't need promises they can't be kept, we need promises based on

skills and experiences. Or do that the Lib Dems, how will they restore

trust? The most important thing is that whoever is police and crime

commissioner lifts the shadow of Hillsborough. We are in that shadow

now. If the person who is the police and crime commissioner is

not trusted fully by the public, if the person is somebody who has got

things that they have done in the past, that they are unable to win

the trust, then the process will fail. You are the Labour candidate,

had you restore that trust? We need a full period of co-operation and

transparency with the public. I intend to engage with the Chief

Constable, wholesome to account, but involve the public as well. We

also need a period of reconciliation as well between the

communities of Hillsborough families and South Yorkshire

families in terms of addressing those issues of confidence and

trust in a police force. The police authority was here before, and that

was not necessarily transparent? Well, we are all saying similar

things about Hillsborough. The big thing in my experience is Rotherham

and the trialled crooning. I don't want to make political points out

of this. -- and the child grooming. I think we need answers on this.

That is just a cheap political point-scoring. You don't just based

your opinions on what you are reading in the newspapers. I lead

to a children's services for five years from 2005-2010. In 2008, it

was rated the best children's service in the country. We launched

the biggest investigation into grinning in that period which led

to five convictions. Clearly, more needs to be done. This sort of

crime can clearly continue. It's not Haydon, it's just because it is

politically and racially sensitive. -- not hidden. People are dancer if

they want more of the same up. If they want the same, they can vote

the same, if they want it changed, they can vote for UKIP. It's

questions are being asked of one of the candidates during the campaign

before they have even been elected, how can the election be one with so

many questions? Ideal with sex offenders on a daily basis and

victims. These things affect people's lives for ever. If the

confidence isn't there then we have to restore that confidence. That

means a new chief constable who is keen to get on with it and he is

saying the same things. Will people trust an ex-policeman to bring his

fellow colleagues to justice? I don't think that's possible.

think that is a personal insult to my integrity of. Will he be able to

work against your old colleagues? Of course, if it needs it, but it

is a case of working with them as well. It's not as policing, it is

crime as well. All four candidates have been pointing the questions

are you. Why are, this is about track records. I have 25 years of

working on behalf of communities in South Yorkshire. I was a magistrate,

listening to evidence before jumping to conclusions. Clearly

that is not what other candidates are doing, which brings their

integrity into question today. That 25 years of experience in the

workplace, as a council member, on the police authority, working as a

councillor in Rotherham, insuring the public's voices inside

Yorkshire are heard, I am proud of that record and I will continue it

if I'm elected. James Vincent refereeing that for

us in Sheffield. And you can find a full list of candidates in your

part of the world on our website. Diana Johnson, those comments from

David Blunkett about the conflict between the Commission and the

chief constable - what do you make of that? A I think David as a

former Home Secretary, makes a very strong point. One of the issues and

we thought about was whether we could apply let this in new scheme

at to see how it works in practice. -- could reply let this new scheme.

-- could we pilot. But we are worried about how this will work

and we know in London, where we have Boris Johnson committee is

already on his third Met Commissioner now. So there are

genuine issues to address. The is there a danger police could end up

serving two Masters? I think there will be a positive tension. This

proposal will actually hold much more closely to account for chief

constables that have demonstrated a bin a number of forces across a

region that they do need closer scrutiny.

Let's get some more of the week's political news in our part of the

world. Len Tingle has our round-up in 60 seconds.

Denis MacShane resigned on Friday. The Commons standards committee had

wanted to resent that might suspend him for 12 months, saying he had

reclaimed thousands in expenses for work he carried out abroad which

was not part of his Parliamentary duties.

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Tory MPs were at the heart of this week's

rebellion over Europe. More controversy over the future of

Yorkshire's only specialist child heart surgery in Leeds. Health

watchdog set now uncovered inefficiencies at a rival centre in

Bristol earmarked to stay open. This raises new concerns and means

that the decisions are now dangerously flawed. And standby for

more winter downpours. The government is said to have failed

yet again to broker a deal on guaranteeing affordable Courier --

cover for flood hit areas. Thanks, Len, and just to add - in

the light of Denis Macshane's resignation, the Conservative MP

for Shipley, Philip Davies, has urged police to revisit the

allegations against Mr MacShane in the light of the detailed evidence

in the commissioner's "astonishing" report. Diana Johnson, Denis

MacShane has gone. How damaging is this? It perpetuates the idea that

MPs are on the bid will? The is were very serious findings from the

House of Commons. -- are on the fiddle. Obviously there will be a

by-election, but it does bring the subject of expenses back into

people's minds. But we have a much more transparent system, which is

published regularly. So we can ensure that MPs are spending

expenses on things they need to be paid for legitimately. A by-

election in Rotherham, shook back to we fancy that Tory's chances?

Good riddance, and I think we absolutely need to restore trust in

politics. I want to talk about it you -- about the EU vote. Do you

think the people in your constituency are happy to spend

more in Brussels? No, which is why a think we need to reduce the money

being spent there. Diana Johnson, was there a whiff of opportunism

about this new-found Labour euroscepticism? Now, this was about

making sure that every other part of government is having to take a

cut, at the EU budget is also taking a cut. Jillian actually

voted for an increase to the Budget because it was to give inflation

across the board to be EU. So it was a bit more money, not less.

damaging his this defeat for David Cameron by his own party? I don't

believe it is damaging at all. The Prime Minister is working really

hard to read calibrate Britain's relationship with Europe. He has

been looking at a cost of Europe, the relationship and what powers we

can actually bring back from Europe. I think ultimately there will be

some questions for the people of Britain because the population is

becoming more sceptical and we need to look about how the relationship

pitch -- should continue in the future. And we be asking what the

people of Yorkshire Bank? Are think there will be some sort of

referendum soon. To Denner Johnson, would you like to see a referendum?

I certainly think Europe is higher on the agenda with voters. But

because of what happened in that vote this week, I think the Prime

Minister has been damaged and his ability to go to Europe and

negotiate is severely compromised. When he can't even take his own

party with him, that Prime Minister it is in difficulty. We've run out