06/07/2014 Sunday Politics Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Up to a million public sector workers will strike this week.

It's one of the biggest walk-outs since 201 .

The country's top trade unionist Frances O'Grady and

Tory Business Minister Matt Hancock go head-to-head.

The Tour de France seems to have cheered him up - just as well

for the Deputy Prime Minister hasn't got much else to smile about.

Nick Clegg joins me live from Sheffield to discuss the

Just over ten weeks until Scotland determines its future.

The man leading the campaign AGAINST independence, Alistair Darling,

And with me throughout the show three top-flight political

journalists always ahead of the peleton - Nick Watt,

They'll be tweeting faster than Tour de France cyclists can pedal.

The news is dominated this morning by stories swirling

around allegations of an historic Westminster paedophile ring.

Concern has grown because of the disappearance of a dossier

handed over to the Home Office in 1983, along with over 100 official

files related to it and possibly containing details of historic child

Labour is calling for a public inquiry led by a child protection

But speaking earlier on The Andrew Marr Show this morning

the Education Secretary Michael Gove ruled that out.

The most important thing that we need to do is ensure that the due

process of law pursues those who may be guilty of individual crimes and

we also learn lessons about what may or may not have gone wrong in the

past, but it is also important to emphasise that many of the

allegations that are being made are historic. And what we do now in

order to keep children safer is better and stronger than was the

case when 20 or 30 years ago. Without getting into a boring

tit-for-tat, public inquiry, "yes" or "no"? No. Helen, can the

Government go on resisting calls for a full-scale inquiry? It is very

hard. There are cynical and non-cynical reasons for calling for

an inquiry. The cynical one allows you to say I can't comment on this.

The non-cynical is it manages to get people to air allegations in a way

that is safe. What we saw at the Leveson Inquiry was helpful, people

who felt they had been shut out from justice getting a chance to tell

their side of the story. A public inquiry in this case is a good idea.

Labour have called for a lot of public inquiries. A list was made in

2012 of how many they called for. Not only Savile, but the West Coast

Main Line and breast implants. On this particular issue, the people

don't trust the politicians, they don't trust the police either

because they may have been complicit in a cover-up. They may not trust

the Home Office who we are told some of their officials were mentioned in

the dossier? That is what David Cameron is hanging on to. This is a

matter now because they are alleged criminal activity, it is for the

police to investigate. In that big piece in the Sunday Times, Tim

Shipman reports one of the people making the allegations lives in the

United States making the allegations lives in the

been out to the United States to interview him. The Prime Minister

would say that is how serious the police are taking it. The problem

for the Prime Minister - he police are taking it. The problem

allergic to big public inquiry. His finest moment was his response to

the Bloody Sunday inquiry shortly after he became Prime

inrequest -- that inquiry took 12 years to report. The problem is the

dossier has gone missing, the files have gone missing, more allegations

keep coming out either directly or indirectly. It doesn't look like it

is going to go away? The fact the dossiers are missing means it is

inappropriate for the Home Office to be investigating this. There is

inappropriate for the Home Office to a police investigation. If after

that, there are questions unanswered which can only be answered by

that, there are questions unanswered public inquiry, or which require

resources that can only be commanded by a public inquiry, I could see the

case for going down that road. I fear that sometimes in this country

we invest almost supernatural powers in what a public inquiry can do I

in what a public inquiry can do. I wonder whether there is another

example of a country that goes through this stale ritual every few

years of a scandal emerging, the opposition calling for an inquiry,

the Government saying no and then holding the line or giving in. I

don't know what we think this inquiries can do. It comes back to

your point, Helen, you should be careful what you call an inquiry on

so it doesn't devalue the concept. On Thursday up to a million public

sector workers - including teachers, firemen and council workers -

will go on strike. Their unions have differing gripes

but the fact they're all striking on the same day is designed to send

a strong message to the government. As the economy picks up again

they're demanding an end Growth has returned strongly to

the UK economy and unemployment is at its lowest

level for more than five years. So why is there still talk

of austerity The deficit is coming down but much

more slowly than the government And accumulated deficits -

the national debt - The UK is now in hock to the tune

of ?1.3 trillion - and rising. In fact, we're only 40% of the way

through George Osborne's planned austerity, with the chancellor now

saying he won't manage to balance Unions are now rebelling

against tight pay controls. Since 2010, average public sector

pay, which goes to about 1 in 5 Over the same period,

prices increased by 16% - meaning the average public sector

worker saw their pay squeezed Going head-to-head on the public

sector strikes and austerity - the general secretary of the TUC

Frances O'Grady, and Conservative We have seen it, public sector pay

squeezed by 9% under the Coalition Government. Isn't it time to take

your foot off the brake a bit? I don't think it is the right time to

let go of the public finances at all. We were always clear that this

is what's called a structural deficit, it doesn't go away just

because the growth is returning and the economy is coming back. We have

protected and are protecting the lowest paid public sector workers

who weren't part of the pay freeze and now pay going up by 1%. These

are difficult decisions. We have had that discussion many times. They are

necessary in order to keep that plan on track and as we can see in the

wider economy, it is working. People's living standards will have

to continue to fall if you are in the public sector? We need to keep

public spending under control and pay restraint is one of the main

ways of being able... The answer is yes? The answer is this is

necessary. The answer is yes, this is necessary. It isn't because we

want to. We have to. This strike isn't going to change the

Government's mind, is it? It does seem like the Government isn't

listening. We have had years... They are listening, they just don't

agree. Ordinary people, including those in the public sector, are

finding it really tough. What really sticks in the throat is the idea

that money can be found to give tax cuts to billionaires, to

millionaires and to big corporations. But it can't be found

to help 500,000 workers in local government, dinner ladies, school

meal workers, lollipop men and women who are earning less than the living

wage. What do you say to that? We have protected those who are the

least well-paid in the public sector. But this is about a

long-term... How can you? Hold on. You have said you have protected

them. This involves ordinary people, many watching this programme, they

have had a 1% pay rise in some cases since 2010. The average gas bill is

up 57%, electric bill up 22%, food costs up 16%, running a car 11% in

costs up 16%, running a car 11%, in what way have you protected people

from spending they have to make? Firstly, you read out the average

increases in public sector pay. That has had the biggest impact at the

top end and those at the bottom end have been best protected, as best we

could. Of course, we have also taken two million people out of income tax

and increased the income tax threshold which has a big positive

impact. We have frozen and then cut fuel duty, which would have been 20

pence higher. I wanted to take on this point about priorities. We have

got to make sure that we get the economy going at the same time and

we raised more money from those at the top than we did before 2010,

partly because we have encouraged them to invest. And this is a really

important balance of making sure we get the books back in order, we have

stability for family finances and we get the economy going. Why not

spread the living wage? We know you could pay for that pay increase

itself if you spread the living wage through the private sector and

guarantee... The living wage being above the minimum wage? Absolutely.

?7.65 in the rest of the country, ?8.80 in London. What is the answer?

I'm a fan of the minimum wage. But not for public sector workers. Being

able to pay low-paid workers as much as possible within the constraints

of the public finances is something I have pushed very hard. The

evidence we can increase the minimum wage has to be balanced which the

Low Pay Commission do with the impact on the number of jobs... Even

after a pay freeze for quite a while among public sector workers, they

are still paid 15% on average more than those in the private sector?

That is not true. It is, according to the ONS figures. I read that

report this morning. If you look at the whole package, what they

report this morning. If you look at credibility that they support the

squeeze on public sector pay. I look forward to them, they ought to come

out and say very clearly that these strikes are wrong and they are

against the strikes and stop taking union money. It is a democratic

right. Hold on. They are - they think the policy of pay restraint is

necessary. Alright. On this point about democracy... Ask yourself why

so many ordinary decent public service workers are so fed up. They

have seen so many billions of pounds wasted through outsourcing to

organisations like G4 S. In Unite and UNISON the turnout in this vote

was under 20%. Alright. OK. One final question... Hold on. You said

millions and millions voted on this... I want to ask you this

question. Is the story in the Mail on Sunday today that Mr Cameron's

on Sunday today that Mr Cameron s planning a big crackdown on the

unions over balloting, is that true? Well, strikes like this... I know

the cases, is it true you are going to dhang the law? Strikes like this

make that argument stronger. The Conservative Party is in Government

on the basis of 23% of the electorate... We have run out of

time. Thank you very much. "Should Scotland be

an independent country?" That's the question the people of

Scotland will answer in a referendum If the polls are to be believed

the voters will answer "no". But in 2011 - ten weeks before

the Holyrood elections - the polls told us that Labour was going to win

and look what happened there - a Alistair Darling is leading

the campaign against independnence. is one that puts the matter of

independence to bed for a generation. In numerical terms, what

would that be? We need a decisive result in September, I think we will

get that provided we get our arguments across in the next couple

of months. What would it be in figures? I am not going to put a

number on it. People will look at it and say, OK, you have had two and a

half years of debate and Scotland has now decided. The polls may be

encouraging at the moment but I am not complacent, there is still a

long way to go. Speculating... If you don't want to answer that, that

is fair enough. Your side claims that a vote for independence is a

vote for massive uncertainty but if it is a no vote there is lots of

uncertainty too. All of the Westminster parties are promising

devolution but there is no timetable, no certainty. Yes, there

is. For the first time I can remember, all three parties are more

or less on the same page in terms of additional powers, we already have

powers in terms of policing and transport, now more powers are

planned in relation to tax and welfare. But you are all saying

different things. Between 2009 and 2012, the three parties have

slightly different proposals but they came together and there was an

agreed series of reforms in relation to tax which are now on the statute

book. If you go back to the devolutionary settlement in 199 ,

people unified around a single proposition so there is history here

and these three parties have delivered and they will deliver in

the event of people saying we will stay part of the UK. If Scotland

vote no to independence, when will Scotland get these extra powers? I

would imagine that in the general election all three parties will have

something in their manifesto and you would expect to see legislation in

the session of Parliament that follows that. Imagining is not

certainty. Because the three parties have said this is what they will do,

and it is important having said that they stick to it. If you look in the

past when the Nationalists said the same thing, when they cast doubt

over what would happen in 2012, we delivered. The only party that

walked out of both of these discussions were the Nationalists

because they are not interested in more powers, they want a complete

break. You cannot say that if Edinburgh gets more devolution that

wouldn't mean fewer Scottish MPs in Westminster, can you? Nobody has any

plans to reduce the number of MPs. If you step back from this moment,

what people have been asked to do in September is to vote on the future

of their country, Scotland, and whether we should be part of the UK.

When I say part of the UK, full members of the UK with

representation in the House of Commons and the institutions that

affect our lives. This is a critically important vote. We want

to see more decentralisation of power to Scotland, and to local

authorities within Scotland, but we don't want a complete break with the

uncertainties, the risks and the downright disadvantages that would

throw Scotland's away if we were to make that break. The economic

arguments are dominating people s thinking, the polls show, that is

what is dominating at the moment. You cannot guarantee continued

membership of the European Union given all the talk now about an

in-out UK referendum. Firstly I don't think anyone has ever argued

Scotland wouldn't get back in. The big question is the terms and

conditions we would have to meet and we are applying to get into

something that is established, it wouldn't be a negotiation. What we

have said is there is no way Europe would let Scotland keep the rebate

which Scotland has, there would be big questions over whether we have

to join the euro, and other terms and conditions. The European Union

does not act with any great speed, on average it takes eight and a half

years to get into Europe. I don t want that uncertainty or the

disadvantages that would come Scotland's away that come with

losing clout in the European Union. The second point you asked me about

is in relation to the UK's membership of the European Union,

and if you look at polls, the majority of people still want to

stay in the UK. Frankly, a lot of people on my side didn't make the

argument against independence for a long time, we have been doing that

over the last two and a half years and we are making progress and that

is why I can say I think we will win provided we continue to get our

arguments across. Similarly with the European Union, the case needs to be

made because it is a powerful case. Isn't it true that the Nationalists

win either way? They win if it is a yes vote, and they win if it is a no

vote. They wanted devolution max so they win either way. There is a

world of difference between devolution and further devolution

where you remain part of the UK. There is a world of difference

between that and making a break, where Scotland becomes a foreign

country to the rest of the UK. You lose that security and those

opportunities. You lose the same currency, the opportunity with

pensions and so on. They are entitled to argue this case with

passion, they want a break, but the two things are worlds apart. Gordon

Brown said that the no campaign was too negative, have you adjusted to

take that criticism into account? Ever since I launched this campaign

over two years ago I said we would make a strong powerful case for

remaining part of the UK. Look at our research, where we have had

warnings from people to say that if we do well with research in Scotland

we get more than our population share of the grand and we gain from

that. There is a positive case but equally nobody will stop me from

saying to the Nationalists, look at the assertions you make which are

collapsing like skittles at the moment. Their assertions don't stand

up. They assert that somehow milk and honey will be flowing. It is

perfectly healthy within a referendum campaign to say that what

you are saying simply isn't true. You have been negative, we all know

about the so-called Cyber Nats book you compared Alex Salmond to the

leader of North Korea. On! The context was that Alex Salmond was

being asked why it was that UKIP had additional seat and he appeared to

blame television being been doing from another country, from BBC South

of the border. If you cannot have humour in a debate, heaven help us.

I think it is important in this debate that people from outside

politics should be allowed to have their say whatever side they are on

because that will make for a far better, healthier debate. Nobody

should be put in a state of fear and alarm by worrying about what will

happen if they stand up. Despite the nastiness, more and more people are

making a stand. We have run out of time. Thank you.

I will be talking to the SNP's hippity leader, Nicola Sturgeon,

next week on Sunday Politics. Scotland: For Richer or Poorer will

be on BBC Two at 9pm tomorrow. Disastrous results in the European

elections, it is fair to say the Lib Dems are down in the doldrums. In a

moment I will be speaking to Nick Clegg, but first Emily has been

asking what Lib Dems would say to the Prime -- Deputy Prime Minister

on Call Clegg. Our phone in this week is the challenges facing the

Liberal Democrats. They are rock bottom in the polls and have dire

results in the local and European elections so what can the party do

to turn things around? Get in touch, we are going straight to line

one and Gareth. How much is a problem of that loss of local

support? It is a massive problem because those are the building

blocks of our success. The councillors who gets the case work

done are also the people who go out and deliver the leaflets and knock

on doors. Interesting, and it is not just local support the party has

lost, is it? In the next general election there are some big-name

Liberal Democrat MPs standing down like Malcolm Bruce and Ming

Campbell, how much of a problem will that be? That is a real challenge

and we have some of our brightest and best reaching an age of maturity

at the same moment so that is quite an additional test in what will be a

difficult election anyway. So how does the party need to position

itself to win back support? Let s does the party need to position

itself to win back support? Let's go to Chris online free, has the party

got its strategy right? There is always a danger of appearing to be a

party that merely dilutes Labour or dilutes the Conservatives. We have a

of is serious, positive messages and we need to get those across in the

next election because if we don't next election because if we don t

people will vote for the Tories. Nick, what do you think of the

party's message at the moment? I have had a look at early draft of

our manifesto and there is some good stuff in there but the authors are

probably too interested in what may think we have achieved in the last

five years and not really focusing on what the voters will want to be

hearing about the next five years. Perhaps they should get out more and

test some of these messages on the doorstep. So you want to see the top

ranks of the party on the doorstep. Gareth online one also wants to make

a point about the manifesto. There is clearly a problem somewhere near

the top and there are some people who seem to be obsessed with power

for power's sake, and happy with a timid offer but the Liberal

Democrats want to change things. timid offer but the Liberal

Democrats want to change things We are running out of time so let's try

to squeeze one more call in. What are your thoughts on the long-term

future of the party? I think serious long-term danger is that the party

could be relegated to the fringes of the UK and no longer being a

national party. We have gone back decades if that happens because for

many years we have been represented in every part of the country at some

level and we have got to rescue ourselves from that. Some

interesting views but we are going to have to wait until the general

election next year to find out how well the Lib Dems face up to these

challenges. Thanks for listening, we are going to finish with an old

classic now. # I'm sorry, I'm sorry... #.

Nick Clegg, welcome to the programme. I want to come onto your

situation in a minute but as you will have seen in the papers, there

is mounting concern over and historic Westminster paedophile

ring, and files relating to it mysteriously disappearing. Why are

you against a full public enquiry into this? I wouldn't rule anything

out. I think we should do anything it takes to uncover this and achieve

justice. delivered, even all these many years

later. How do you do it? There is an inquiry in the Home Office about

what's happened to these documents, serious questions need to be asked

about what happened in the Home Office and those questions need to

be answered. There are inquiries in the BBC, in the NHS and most

importantly of all the police are looking into the places where this

abuse was alleged to have taken place. All I would say is, let's

make sure that justice is delivered, truth is uncovered and I think that

the way to do that, as we have seen, is by allowing the police to get on

with their work. You say that, but there are only seven police involved

in this inquiry. There are 195 involved in the hacking

investigations. We can both agree that child abuse is more important

and serious than hacking. The Home Office, there are reports that Home

Office officials may have been mentioned in the dossier, people

don't trust people to investigate themselves, Mr Clegg? No, I accept

that we need to make sure that - themselves, Mr Clegg? No, I accept

that we need to make sure that and that we need to make sure that - and

the police need to make sure that the police investigations are

thorough, well resourced. I can t thorough, well resourced. I can't

think of anything more horrendous, I can't, than powerful people

organising themselves and worse still, this is what is alleged,

covering up for still, this is what is alleged,

can get people in the dock, the only way you can get people charged, is

by allowing the prosecuting authorities and the police to do

their job. I have an open mind about what other inquiries take place. A

number of other inquiries are taking place. I assume any additional

inquiries wouldn't be able to second guess or look into the matters which

the police are looking into already. All I would say is that people who

have information, who want to provide information which they think

is relevant to this, please get in touch with the police. Alright.

Let's come on to our own inquiry into the state of

Let's come on to our own inquiry finances, but doing so much more

fairly than would have been the case, if the Conservatives had been

in Government on their own, they wouldn't have delivered these tax

cuts. They wouldn't have delivered the triple lock guarantee for

pensions or the pupil premium. OK. Why are you 8% in the polls? Well,

because I think where we get our message across - and I am here in my

own constituency - this is a constituency where I am a

campaigning MP - we can dispel a lot of the information and say we have

done a decent thing by going into Government and we have delivered big

changes, big reforms which you can touch and see in your school, in

your pensions, in your taxes and then people do support us and, in

our areas of strength, we were winning against both the

Conservative and Labour parties. It Conservative and Labour parties It

is a big effort. Of course, there are lots of people from both left

and right who want to shout us down and want to vilify our role in

Government. What we also need to do - and Nick Harvey was quite right -

having been proud of our record of delivery, we also need to set out in

our manifesto as we are and as we will our promise of more, of more

support in schools. So why is it then... Why is it then that a Lib

Dem MP in our own film says you are in danger of no longer becoming a

National Party. That could be the Clegg legacy, you cease to be a

National Party? I'm a practical man. I believe passionately in what we

have done in politics. I am so proud of my party. I don't spend that much

time speculating that the end might be nigh. There is no point in doing

that. Let's get out there, which is what I do in my own constituency, in

challenges circumstances and say we are proud of what we have done, we

have done a good thing for the country, we have delivered more

Liberal Democrat policies than the party has ever dreamed delivering

before. We have a programme of change, of reform, of liberal

reform, which is very exciting. Just over the last few weeks, I have been

setting out our plans to provide more help to carers, to make sure

teachers in every classroom are properly qualified, that all kids in

school are being taught a proper core curriculum. That parts company

from the ideological rigidities with which the Conservatives deal with

education policy. Those are thing which speak to many of the values

that people who support us... Alright. When Mike Storey gets out

and about, he told this programme two weeks' ago that he finds that

you "are toxic on the doorstep". Look, as everybody knows, being the

leader of a party, which for the first time in its history goes into

Government, which is already a controversial thing to do because

you are governing with our enemies, the Conservatives, and on top of

that, doing all the difficult and unpopular things to fix the broken

economy which was left to us by Labour, of course as leader of that

party I get a lot of incoming fire from right and left. The right say

that I'm stopping the Conservatives doing what they want. There is a

good reason for that. They didn't good reason for that. They didn t

win the election. The left say that somehow we have lost our soul when

we haven't. That happens day in, day out. Of course that will have some

effect. My answer to that is not to buckle to those criticisms, those

misplaced Chris -- criticisms from left and right, but to stand up

proudly. Is it your intention to fight the next election against an

in-out referendum on Europe? Yes. Unless there is major treaty change?

Our position hasn't waivered, it won't waiver, we are not going to

flip-flop on the issue of the referendum like the Conservatives

did. We want an in-out referendum. With ve legislated for the trigger

when that will happen, when in u powers are transferred to the

European Union. That is what we have said for years. We legislated for

that... So no change? No change. that... So no change? No change

Alright. We are expecting a reshuffle shortly. Will you keep

Vince Cable as Business Secretary to the election? I'm immensely proud of

what Vince has done. Yes, I intend to make sure that Vince continues to

serve in the Government in his present capacity Look what he has

done on apprenticeships, he's done more than many people for many years

to make sure we build-up manufacturing, the north here, not

just the south. I'm proud of what he's done. We have talked about some

heavy things. We know you have got into kickboxing. Is there any danger

of you becoming a mammal - you know what I mean - a middle-aged man in

Lycra! Will the Tour de France influence you? Absolutely no risk of

that whatsoever having seen the Tour de France start yesterday near

Leeds. I have the yellow Yorkshire sign on my pullover. I will see them

later whisk through my constituency. I will not try to emulate them. I'm

sure that is to the relief of a grateful nation. Thank you.

It's just gone 11.35, you're watching the Sunday Politics.

We say goodbye to viewers in Scotland who leave us now

for Sunday Politics Scotland. Coming up here in 20 minutes,

the Week watching the Sunday Politics East

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Today, we are on the route of the Tour de

France. Doesn't people lined the streets of Yorkshire for thd

France. Doesn't people lined the streets of Yorkshire for the second

streets of Yorkshire for thd second stage of the race. This is widely

acknowledged to be the biggdst acknowledged to be the biggest

annual sporting events on the planet. We will be looking back at

day one's Grand Depart and getting the inside story on how Yorkshire

beat off competition across Europe to land Le Tour.

We are alive today from Wrekenton in West Yorkshire overlooking the right

on Bali, one of many picturesque on Bali, one of many picturesque

locations to play host to this year's Tour. They have been lining

the streets from the wee small hours. They have got just over two

hours to wait before the pellet on, the main group operators, htrtle

through on their way to Sheffield. We are joined by BBN Hamilton and

Craig Whittaker. The Prime Linister Craig Whittaker. The Prime Minister

said he wouldn't wear lycra, Nick Clegg said he wouldn't wear lycra,

you have no such shame. It is very appropriate.

You are the local MP, Craig, how would you sum up the atmosphere

This is the jewel in the crown of Yorkshire and the beating hdart The

sun has come out and people are here and what a great day for the Tour

sun has come out and people are here and what a great day for thd Tour de

France. Everybody is incredibly France. Everybody is incredhbly

excited. The Tour started yesterday in Leeds

The Tour started yesterday hn Leeds and went through your constituency.

and went through your consthtuency. What was the mood like?

Terrific. I've never seen Ldeds so vibrant. It was like a carnival

vibrant. It was like a carnhval atmosphere. It was terrific.

Watching the start of the Grand Depart was just amazing.

The only dampener was that hnjury to The only dampener was that injury to

Mark Cavendish but overall ht was The only dampener was that hnjury to

Mark Cavendish but overall ht was a day of celebration with more than

Mark Cavendish but overall it was a day of celebration with mord than 1

day of celebration with more than 1 million people lining the streets of

Yorkshire. Many of Westminster's big hitters were watching the race and

hitters were watching the r`ce and we caught up with some of them.

They came and their thousands, hundreds of thousands, jostling

shoulder to shoulder on the streets of Leeds before the start. Bands,

tourists and politicians. I think this is a brilliant day and

you can see the excitement on the streets, how excited people are, and

streets, how excited people are and we are looking forward to seeing the

we are looking forward to sdeing the start of the race.

The Tour wasn't far from Nick Clegg's mind either. This time

The Tour wasn't far from Nick Clegg's mind either. This thme at

The Tour wasn't far from Nick Clegg's mind either. This time at a

business conference trying to boost inward investment to Yorkshhre on

inward investment to Yorkshire on Friday.

Leeds has people with no higher and ideas to help your businessds

Leeds has people with no higher and ideas to help your businesses get

ahead. I was talking to a number of

companies who are thinking of investing more money in the

Yorkshire area and using thd Yorkshire area and using the

enthusiasm of the Tour de France to see, go on, take the next step, but

the money in the air and crdate see, go on, take the next step, but

the money in the air and create the jobs.

David Cameron turned up. I think legacy will come in parts.

There is a straight economic latency of ?20 million inward investment.

There will be sporting legacy across people will watch this and take up

cycling and that is important. The smells want just be on

spectators faces as the Tour lashes along. The owner of 12 bedroomed

terraced house here put it tp for terraced house here put it up for

rental over the two days. The rent was ?10,000.

There is more. The challenge now is to enstre that

the cheers and `` that when the cheers they'd get leaves a lasting

legacy. `` when the cheers fade. ?10,000 to rent your house out for

the weekend. I think we would all stay in a tent at we were offered

that money. Where are you from? New Zealand. The atmosphere is

amazing. Especially enjoying the world's largest paint.

I think you should leave th`t until I think you should leave th`t until

later. It will be followed by the world's largest hangover.

I've never seen anything like that. It was incredible.

Let me chance to this young man Argue on antibiotics for that nasty

Argue on antibiotics for th`t nasty rash?

I am not but I will get that seem to later.

Where are you from? I live in Beijing at the moment.

As China getting excited about the Tour?

It has lots of bicycles. That is a song.

It is but I'm not singing it. This is the biggest cycling event in

the world. Why are we surprhsed at the world. Why are we surprhsed at

the turn out? It is huge. Stch a great sport and we are very good at

it. Right up to the event, there

it. Right up to the event, therd have

Right up to the event, there have been people have been put ott

Right up to the event, therd have been people have been put out by

Right up to the event, there have been people have been put ott by all

been people have been put out by all the road closures and the

shenanigans that go with that. the road closures and the

shenanigans that go with th`t. Has shenanigans that go with th`t. Has

it been worth the inconvenience? Absolutely. It is like London 2 12.

All the doom and gloom before hand just changed overnight. That is what

we have seen. It is worth every penny. At the world's population

we have seen. It is worth every penny. At the world's popul`tion are

going to be watching this area. What advertising.

Let me bring in the longest serving councillor in the area. He is also a

keen cyclist. You cycle all over the world, don't you?

Yes, South America, Vietnam, China, Central America last year and

Ireland two weeks ago. How do far have you travelled?

How do far have you travelldd? About 400 miles last week. A lot.

How do far have you travelled? About 400 miles last week. @ lot. I

have got a new need. The pain has gone so I can go further.

What is the atmosphere like in Sheffield? Some suggest that hadn't

embraced the Tour as much as other places.

I don't know why they got that from. They are decked out across the city

and every lamp post has a ydllow and every lamp post has a yellow

ribbon on at. I don't know how many miles that is but the cycling people

put them up a few days ago `nd we put them up a few days ago and we

had a massive festival. The city centre was all during which people

`` bulging. I'm hoping to `` and get there for the claim.

It is the steepest and clail in the It is the steepest and claim in the

whole route. It is steep and to get round that

band is very difficult. I s`w the band is very difficult. I s`w the

sky team practice it and they just sky team practice it and thdy just

shot up. I couldn't believe it. It has been great to see so many

families enjoying it. You rdpresent families enjoying it. You represent

one of the poorest constitudncies. one of the poorest constitudncies.

Our people embracing the Tour as Our people embracing the Totr as

much as anybody else? They are. This isn't about lycra or

expensive gear. It is about getting people out of cars and onto bicycles

as a future transport system. people out of cars and onto bicycles

as a future transport systel. The as a future transport systel. The

more we can do that and put pressure on government to create segregated

cycling parts and make it safer. on government to create segregated

cycling parts and make it s`fer If cycling parts and make it safer. If

we can get children on bikes they will continue to cycle in adult

hood. People are paying ?10,000 to rent a

house out in west Yorkshire. How much would you put on the v`lue to

the economy? Massive amounts. The cost to

government has been about ?10 government has been about ?00

million which is nothing to what every local economy... You can see

many thousands of people just supporting this one partner in

Yorkshire. It is really good investment and return and amazing

investment and return and alazing for the local economies.

I read in one of the papers, you get a big football match at Wembley with

80,000 people, on the Tour xou get 80,000 people in every town.

That is what has been stunning. It has engaged people from all

backgrounds and all levels of society. They are really interested

in how it goes and whether British riders are going to do well. Lining

the route, it is absolutely phenomenal. It is like this in every

town, village and city in Yorkshire. What a great thing. Have you been

surprised at the depth of interest? I don't think I have. We ard

surprised at the depth of interest? I don't think I have. We are very

good at getting involved locally with great local spirit. This

good at getting involved locally with great local spirit. Thhs week

as an MP I have been on various as an MP I have been on various

tours and local schools got involved with parents and children gdtting

tours and local schools got involved with parents and children getting on

with parents and children gdtting on their bikes. It will go on for weeks

to come. We are now standing on what the

French call the courts to rhp and in.

Yorkshire surprised many whdn it Yorkshire surprised many when it

landed the Tour de France. Many thought it was an April fools joke

when it was first announced and be counted each of several European

competitors to get this event `` the county beat off. Let's look at how

the county won the Tour. It was the city of Edinburgh that

the government had remains for the bed. The votes for independdnce

bed. The votes for independence might have had something to do with

it. But then came this man, Gary Verity, the chief executive of

Welcome to Yorkshire. He beat off competition frol

Welcome to Yorkshire. He beat off competition from the

Welcome to Yorkshire. He beat off competition frol the man

He beat off competition from the man who is now Italy's new primd

who is now Italy's new prime ministers.

I am eight cycling so I am putting my money where my mouth is, so to

speak. well out of joint in Westminster.

Gary Verity saw an opportunity for Yorkshire to steal this event from

Edinburgh and from Florence and Berlin and face other capit`l cities

Berlin and face other capital cities that had been in the running.

Yorkshire MPs got behind the that had been in the running.

Yorkshire MPs got behind the event and talked to Westminster MPs about

the huge opportunity for Yorkshire and went forward and help to get the

money in. unconventional routes to Yorkshire

Landing Le Tour. Clenching one of the biggest sporting events in the

world can only be a source of pride for the people who say they are from

Yorkshire. That was the story of her Yorkshire

one Le Tour. It is hard to hmagine one Le Tour. It is hard to imagine

but people thought it was an April fools joke.

I was staggered when I heard Gary Verity and Owen said. It was at the

big public event and people where the amused by it. People didn't even

know we were bidding for it. The government wanted Scotland to win.

The government wasn't too h`ppy The government wasn't too h`ppy

Gary is a big character and needs a medal for this.

Have you heard this? That it was the government's preferred option for

Scotland to host at your with this being the year of independence

referendum. I think you have hit the nail on the

I think you have hit the nahl on the head but as we know Gary did a

magnificent job. It has been a great success story for Yorkshire.

With this have happened without Gary Verity or the soon`to`be Surrey Gary

Verity I would imagine? I don't know. You need a big

personality like that and all the time it came through, his passion

time it came through, his p`ssion for Yorkshire. He was backed up by

very good people. It was thd very good people. It was the

collective effort that did ht but collective effort that did ht but

Gary's sheer force of personality and persuasive arguments is

obviously what won it. Plus, who needs to advertise Yorkshird.

obviously what won it. Plus, who needs to advertise Yorkshire. You

needs to advertise Yorkshird. You can see it.

One of the most overused words in the sporting Lexington is legacy. ``

the sporting Lexington is ldgacy. `` lexicon. What will be the legacy?

We saw a huge uptake of cycling at the London 2012. I've seen a huge

the London 2012. I've seen ` huge uptake of people on bikes and that

will continue. There is talk about having an annual event in Yorkshire

and long may it rain. This is the first of a long series

of sporting events for your city? We set up the cycle Forum in

Sheffield which was most arrived. People said it would be too hilly to

cycle in Yorkshire. But that has doubled people commuting to work on

bikes. 5000 kids learning to cycle in schools. This is a culmination of

that. It is the way to improve the health of our nation, the

environment and get people from a to B. This is the answer and it will

require more capital investment but require more capital investlent but

we are getting there. We have become more cycling friendly

as a nation but will be become more cycling friendly as a result of the

Tour? I think so because this will get

more people out active and on their bicycles. As well as the

environmental effects they have outlined, the public health effect

is huge. We shouldn't underdstimate is huge. We shouldn't underestimate

the savings to the NHS and the environment if people carry on. What

we really need is segregated cycleways as much as possible. If

you can separate people from traffic you can separate people frol traffic

they will be much more likely to go out on a bike.

I would not fancy going out into Leeds city centre with the traffic.

You just need a care to separate Leeds city centre with the traffic.

You just need a care to separate the traffic from the cyclists and

cyclist will see much more safe. They do that in Holland. Yot can

They do that in Holland. You can still do it despite the Heldn is of

still do it despite the Helen is of the country. The safer it is, the

more likely you will get children more likely you will get chhldren

and adults out cycling. We have a lot of segregated cycle

parks already. What we need is this government to continue drivhng

forward to make sure that h`ppens. More and more people are using it

and coming from out of town from the city is likely to Manchester to

cycle on our wonderful countryside. Sheffield has become a more hostile

place for motorists. Would that mean cyclists safer?

I wouldn't say that. Most cyclists I wouldn't say that. Most cxclists

are motorists as well so they are motorists as well so thdy

understand the issues. There are understand the issues. Therd are

certain areas where they come certain areas where they cole

together and we have to be careful and planet but in the long term we

must have separate lanes. Wd have must have separate lanes. Wd have

got the routes along the canal tool bar and all these are coming to

fruition. It takes time. Words the Tour de France happen

anywhere else but France? It is such an anarchic country.

The Olympics in 2012 show that we can do it. If we set our minds to

something we can do it. The organisation has been absolttely

organisation has been absolutely brilliant. Everybody knows what they

are doing and it has been very, very good.

It is all very well saying get kids out on the bikes but we live

It is all very well saying get kids out on the bikes but we livd in

Yorkshire and we live in tiles when children are wrapped in cotton wool.

I've encouraged to go out on their bikes and go on a long ride?

Very much so. But they must wear their helmets and beam or order

where than we ever aware th`t smack road I wear `` Road aware. We must

push the benefits. I agree. Children are the answer and

because of the problem of obesity we must get them young. That's why we

are speaking to eight and nine`year`old kids and tellhng

are speaking to eight and nine`year`old kids and telling them

how to write properly. It is not a cheap hobby. Bikes are

expensive things. The proper dear as well.

You don't have to have deal like this and an expensive bike. Bikes

start at 50 quid. You don't need to spend a fortune. This is a mass

sport and hobby and it is open to anyone no matter their background

and income. I would encourage anyone to get a a sick bike and as they

become more enthusiastic they can become more enthusiastic thdy can

perhaps upgrade. What would be the long`term benefits

here. No question, in the lead up to this,

we will see more and more families we will see more and more f`milies

getting out on the bikes and enjoying the health benefits.

Definitely. The growing participation. Not just kids. I am

76 and have colleagues who `re aware 76 and have colleagues who `re aware

of the growing importance to help and the environment.

More people on bikes, better public health and better environment.

Nearly time for us to make our Grand Depart. There will be a special

programme for people in west and south Yorkshire tonight with a recap

of the days events. We will leave you with a roundup of the two in

Yorkshire. `` the Tour. research indicates that most of the

progress in London was being made before that started. I wish we had

longer for that. It is all over to you.

What will Thursday's mass public sector strike achieve?

Has David Cameron's anti-Juncker attacks clawed back support

And is Alan Johnson really thinking about challenging Ed Miliband

We will start with the strikes, Matt Hancock was hardline in the

head-to-head that he did with the TUC. I guess that the Tory internal

polling and focus groups must be telling them that there are votes in

taking a tough line? There is that and there is the fact that they are

now much more confident on any economic policy two or three years

ago. They shied away from it because the economy was shrinking, there was

still a danger that public sector job losses would lead to higher

unemployment overall. Now, the economy is growing, they have a good

story to sell about employment so they are much more bolshy and brazen

than they were two or three years ago. They know that it always causes

problems for Labour. Labour is naturally sympathetic to the public

sector workers, pay being squeezed, they are striking to make an issue

of it. And yet they can't quite come out and give the unions 100% Labour

support? Exactly. You saw Tristram Hunt on the Marr Show this morning

squirming to support the idea of strikes, but not this particular

strike. It was always the question that gets asked to Labour - who

funds you? That is a real problem. The bit that gets me is they trail

this ef are I time there is a -- every time there is a strike, this

idea of cutting it to ballots and local election turnout was a third.

Boris Johnson was elected Mayor of London with 38% turnout. We need to

talk about-turnout across our democracy. That is an easy rebuttal

for Labour to make. Matt Hancock was hardline about changing the strike

law. When you asked him the question, if you are not going to

stabilise the public finances till 2018, does this mean the pay freeze

or no real term pay increase in the public sector will increase till

2018, h e was inner vous on that one. -- he was nervous on that one.

This strike is different to those strikes that took place in 2010. At

strikes that took place in 2010 At that time, the TUC and the Labour

Leadership thought there was going to be a great movement out there,

not a kind of 1926 movement, but a great movement out there. This time

round, I think the climate is different. Ed Miliband talking about

wage increases being outstripped by inflation and people not seeing the

recovery coming through into their pay packets. Slightly more tricky

territory for the Tories. If The Labour machine cannot make something

out of Matt Hancock telling this programme there will be no increase

in pay for workers in the public sector till 2018, they have a

problem? They do have a problem They have to say always that they

would not just turn the money taps on. That is the dance that you are

locked in all the time. Can we all agree that Alan Johnson is not going

to stand against Ed Miliband this side of the election? Some

politicians are cynical enough. I don't think Alan Johnson is one.

politicians are cynical enough. I don't think Alan Johnson is one Do

we agree? There is nothing in it for Labour and certainly not for Alan

Johnson. No way. It is the last thing he would want to do. There are

some desperate members going around trying to find a stalking horse.

Alan Johnson will not be their man. He has more important things to do

on a Thursday night on BBC One! Isn't it something about the febrile

state of the Labour Party that Labour, some Labour backbenchers or

in the Shadow Cabinet, can float the idea of this nonsense? If there was

a time to do it, maybe it was in the middle of the Parliament. With ten

months left, you are stuck with the leader you chose in 2010. I remember

them failing to understand this in January of 2010 when there was that

last push against Gordon Brown. Five months before an election, they were

trying to do something. The deputy Leader of the Labour Party had

something to do with it. There is deep unease about Ed Miliband. There

are problems but Alan Johnson is not the man. I think there is no chance

of it! If the most recent polls are to be

believed, David Cameron appears to have enjoyed a 'Juncker bounce' -

clawing back some support from UKIP after he very publicly opposed the

appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker to the post of EU Commission

president. Last week Nigel Farage took his newly enlarged UKIP

contingent to Strasbourg for the first session

of the new European Parliament. These two gentlemen have nothing to

say today. It was the usual dull, looking back to a model invented 50

years ago and we are the ones that want democracy, we are the ones that

want nation state, we are the ones that want a global future for our

countries, not to be trapped inside this museum. Thank you. I can see we

will be covering more of the European Parliament at last!

It's rumoured he's likely to stand in the next general election in the

Kent constituency of Thanet South, currently held by the Conservatives.

Last week the Conservatives selected their candidate for the seat -

Craig McKinlay - a former deputy leader of UKIP.

Did you get the short straw, you have got a seat that Nigel Farage is

probably going to fight? Not in the slightest. It is a seat that I know

well. It is a seat that there's obvious euro scepticism there and my

qualities are right for that seat. UKIP got some very good... What are

your qualities? Deep-seated conservatism, I was a founder of

UKIP, I wrote the script back in 1992. My heart is Conservative

values. They are best put out to the public by me in South Thanet. It

would be ridiculous if Nigel chose that seat. We need a building block

of people like myself to form a Government if we are going to have

that referendum that is long overdue. I don't think he's got the

luxury of losing somebody who is very similar in views to him. He

would be best look looking elsewhere. You wouldn't like him to

stand in your seat, would you? It would seem to make very little

sense. People would say what is UKIP all about if it's fighting people

who have got a similar view to them? We do need to build a majority

Government for the Conservatives next year because only us are

offering that clear in-out referendum. I want to be one of

those building blocks that is part of that renegotiation that we will

put to public in a referendum. Sounds to me like if the choice is

between you and Nigel Farage next May in Thanet South, it is Tweedle

Dum and Tweedle Dee? Not at all. May in Thanet South, it is Tweedle

Dum and Tweedle Dee? Not at all The Dum and Tweedle Dee? Not at all. The

danger to this country is another Labour Government. That is one of

the main reasons that I left UKIP in 2005 because that last five years of

the Labour Government was the most dangerous to the fundamentals of

Britain that we have ever seen. I'm happy with the Conservatives. I have

full Conservative values. I am a Euro-sceptic. Thank you for joining

us. The Westminster bubble yet again, which has a herd mentality, a

bubble with a herd mentality, it got it wrong yet again. Mr Cameron's

isolated, he is useless at diplomacy, all of which may be true,

but the British people liked it and his backbenchers liked it? True.

Although some of us would say it is possible... You are speaking for the

bubble? I'm speaking for my segment of the bubble. Some of us argued

that he got it wrong diplomatically and it would be wrong politically.

It will be the passage of time. We saw UKIP decline between the 20 4

European elections and the 2005 General. You would expect something

similar to happen this time round. The question is how far low do they

fall? They are still registering 12-15% in the opinion polls. They

are. When Mr Cameron wielded his veto which

are. When Mr Cameron wielded his accountant. He is somebody who can

be seen to be a champion of local people. If they had parachuted in a

special adviser, they would be in real trouble. He wants to get out...

This Former Cabinet Minister Lord Tebbit

says he believes there may well have been a cover up over child abuse

in the 1980s, after more than a hundred documents relating to

historical abuse allegations are missing or have been destroyed.

In Kenya, 29 people have been killed in two

attacks by Islamist militants. And Britain's