29/11/2011 BBC Points West

Hello and welcome to BBC Points West. In the headlines tonight: a

test case for the country about have the right to die. A man who's

almost totally paralysed asks the High Court to be allowed to die

when he chooses. A psychiatrist says he's not

satisfied John Hogan was insane when he pushed his children to

their death. As the unions stand shoulder to

shoulder, how tomorrow's strike will affect you.

And as the Chancellor gives a boost to the economy, roads and public

transport get some benefit in the West.

Good evening. A severely disabled man from Wiltshire is asking the

High Court to allow a doctor to lawfully end his life. Tony

Nicklinson from Melksham has Locked-in Syndrome after suffering

a stroke. He can only move his head and eyes. His lawyers want a new

ruling introduced that if anyone assists him, they could use

necessity as a defence against a murder charge. Mr Nicklinson hopes

if they win, it will give him the choice to end his life when he

wants. But as Ali Vowles reports this is a national test case, which

raises difficult questions about euthanasia. Like most people, I did

not give suicide a thought, despite being able to do it legally. Then I

had my stroke and the choice was taken away from it. It is certainly

true that you do not know what you have until you do not have it.

Tony Nicklinson would like to have the choice of being able to end his

own life. Six years ago a stroke left him paralysed below the neck

and unable to speak. He communicates using a computer that

recognizes his eye movements. Tony's life is unrecognizable from

the one he had before his stroke. He was the life and soul of the

party and he is an ex rugby player. He is an alpha male and a daredevil.

He went skydiving and did all kinds of crazy things.

Because of his disabilities he needs his wife Jane to help him do

everything. He would also have to rely on her to help him take his

own life. For this she could face a murder charge, so together they are

trying to change the law. A time will come when he says enough is

enough. Really his only option is Switzerland which he might consider

eventually if our legal case does not pan out, or starvation which is

a very nasty way to go. More than 150 people have ended their lives

by travelling from the UK to countries like Switzerland where

assisted suicide is legal. Tony and his wife want the law changed so

that necessity is considered the defence for murder. They want to

make it lawful for a doctor to terminate his life, with his

consent, in cases of voluntary active euthanasia. Some days this

life gets too much for me and I break down and cried. This is not

helped by knowing I could live like this for another 20 years because I

do not have a way out like the non- disabled have. If I had to do it, I

do not know if I could until the time comes. I like to think that I

could. It is what he wants and if you love someone you will do

anything to help them. What more can I do? There is nothing I can do.

I do not think people realise what an awful thing it is to see the

person that you love in there and you cannot relieve their pain. This

is all I can do for him. It's hoped the High Court will begin hearing

the arguments for his case in the New Year.

The father of a six-year-old boy was not mentally ill when he pushed

him off a hotel balcony in Crete. This was the claim made today by a

consultant forensic psychiatrist at the second inquest into Liam

Hogan's death. He said doctors treating John Hogan had reached the

wrong conclusion about his state of mind when he pushed Liam and his

two-year-old sister Mia off the balcony in Greece five years ago.

Our Home Affairs Correspondent, Steve Brodie was in court.

A Greek court cleared John Hogan of murder but found he had been

suffering from an earthquake of insanity when he pushed Liam and

Mia off the balcony, while their mother Natasha's back was turned.

When John Hogan returned to Britain, an inquest was held into Liam's

death and the then Bristol Coroner ruled the six-year-old had been

unlawfully killed. That decision was quashed by the High Court, so

today both families were back for the second time. Natasha now lives

in Australia but today members of her family arrived to hear the

expert witness, Dr Akintundi Akinkummi, make the surprise claim

that her former husband was not mentally ill in the moments he

pushed the children from the top floor.

The forensic psychiatrist told the inquest he was not satisfied that

Mr Hogan was suffering from a disease of the mind whent he pushed

Liam and Mia off the balcony. He went on, I cannot draw the

conclusion that he was legally insane at the time of the incident.

However, the consultant made it clear he had been refused

permission to interview Mr Hogan. Despite repeated questioning from

John Hogan's QC the consultant pyschiatrist refused to move from

his position that John Hogan was not mentally ill when he pushed

Liam and Mia off the balcony. He also stood by his judgement that

the Greek doctors had reached the wrong conclusion and that it was

only after the death that he became ill.

The coroner intervened to tell the Hogan family barrister, Christina

Lambert, QC, that she was asking the psychiatrist the same question

repeatedly, as the couple clashed in the court room.

Tomorrow the Coroner is expected to return her verdict.

Union leaders are asking the Royal Bank of Scotland to reconsider

closing its site in Bristol. Today it was confirmed that more than 300

people will lose their jobs at the bank's office in Aztec West. Unions

say it would devastate the local area. This organisation is owned by

the taxpayer and can take a longer term view about job stability,

keeping people in work, propping up the economy and helping the UK

taxpayer. These people are not responsible for the financial

crisis or the decisions that this organisation has made. They are

paying the price and the future is very uncertain. The RBS says the

cuts are part of 3,000 job losses announced last year and that it

would do all it could to offer redeployment opportunities and keep

compulsory redundancies to an absolute minimum.

It's been announced the Honda car factory in Swindon will return to

full production in less than three weeks. Thousands of staff have been

working reduced hours since the end of September after floods in

Thailand caused problems to the supply chain. The company's

confirmed workers will go back to a five day week in mid-December.

Today was the Chancellor's autumn statement. And while he was

painting a thoroughly pessimistic view of the British economy, there

was some good news for the West. Funding was announced for three

major projects. It will mean the go-ahead for a link road in South

Bristol, a new rapid bus route in the city and improvements to the M4.

Once a vision of the future, now bought and paid for. Well, almost.

We can give the go-ahead around the country to 35 new road and rail

schemes to support economic development.

Amidst the doom and gloom, the Chancellor pledged funding for a

rapid bus route from Ashton Vale into the railway station at Bristol

Temple Meads. This one is already in service in Leeds. A bus that can

run on normal roads or a specially designed concrete track. It

guarantees faster more reliable journeys.

There's also money for the South Bristol link road. Debated for

years, it's seen by the business community as vital for regenerating

South Bristol. We have had several generations of difficult employment

down in South Bristol ever since the cigarette factory closed and I

think this will make the rest of Bristol more accessible to people

who live in the area. But not everyone's in favour of a

new road with campaigners opposed to the planned route.

And if you use the M4 to travel to and from South Wales then there'll

be improvements there too. George Osborne hopes to keep us

moving, even if the economy isn't. You're watching BBC Points West. In

will be hit with the weather forecast very shortly but before

that there is more to bring it. Where have you been? Old George!

is a wonderful Christmas favourite but what is the film's connection

with the West Country? You can find out sooner. There's been no last-

ditch deal to avert tomorrow's mass strike by public sector workers. So

most schools in the West will shut, hospitals have postponed many

operations, and government offices will be reduced to a skeleton staff.

And there's likely to be traffic disruption as marches and

demonstrations take place across the region.

It's set to be the biggest strike in decades. Unions representing

more than two million public sector workers are taking action over what

the government wants to do to their pensions. Among those standing

shoulder to shoulder at this photo- call in Bristol are teachers,

social workers, probation officers, university lecturers and cleaners.

30 unions are involved. Some, like Unison and Unite are used to taking

industrial action. But for other unions and their members it'll be

the first time they've ever been on strike.

Football in the playground of a primary school in the Forest of

Dean. But tomorrow these pupils at St White's in Cinderford will be

staying away, as will their head teacher. His union has never before

called a strike. Most unprecedented. It is a last resort action and we

do not want to take any action, we just want schools to be open

because we understand it will be an inconvenience to parents. We are

doing it for the sake of the profession.

It's the same for this senior council manager in Bristol. Esther

Pickup-Keller is another who's never been on strike. The proposed

changes would hit her hard. When we signed up to the pension scheme we

were told that our benefits at the end of it would be based on our

final salary. That is the point that we now have a grievance about.

It is like a contract. When you sign up to it they say what you

will get. You pay more, you work longer and then they will not give

you as much as they promised. That is what we got upset about

It's the second mass strike in this pension dispute. In June four

unions were involved. Talks with the government have continued

throughout. Among those striking once more are these government

scientists from Swindon. Today they learnt from the Chancellor that

their pay will be held back for several more years. We must be

really feeling the pinch to go out and strike because it is really

affecting our pockets. It is not Firth. We have had a two year pay

freeze and we will be about to end our third year of pay freeze so we

have had no cost-of-living increase so it is difficult. They've now

left work for the day. They'll be back first thing tomorrow, to man a

picket line. But that's only one side of the

argument. The main reason pensions are being changed is because people

are living longer, and the amount in their pension funds simply isn't

enough. While these strikes may have widespread public sector

support, they're seen rather differently by those in business

and industry. Their pensions are often smaller, and can be hit hard

by fluctuations in the stock market. And they warn stoppages could harm

the West's economy. If this escalates tender sympathy may be

quickly lost. Business needs to keep going. What does off or maybe

more days off would be difficult to justify.

For vital public services, such as the ambulances, this is a

challenging time. Paramedics themselves will still be working,

but other staff will be staying away. But whether here or at

hospital, all stress that urgent medical work will not be hindered.

We have got 15% or 20% of staff who say they will be on strike action

but a lot of them still intend to provide a 999 response. We have

been able to mitigate a lot of the shortfall with clinical managers so

we will be able to respond to patients' needs.

Politically this strike action seems to get little sympathy. The

coalition Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are against, while Labour

officially oppose it. What probably matters much more is what you, the

Well, to discuss tomorrow's strike and to give their views, I'm joined

by Mark Dampier, head of research at the finance and pensions experts

Hargreaves Lansdown. And Nigel Costley, Regional secretary of the

TUC.$$NEWLINE The websites for Heidi you justified causing

millions of people so much disruption tomorrow at? To people

who have had nothing to do with mucking about with your pensions.

There is almost one year's worth of talks and months of debates and

workplaces. The negotiations have got nowhere. The breadth of support

for this is astonishing, how the Government has managed to pick a

fight with head teachers, radiographers, senior civil

servants - it is quite astonishing the level of support that has been

one for this action tomorrow. effect, it is ordinary people that

you're heading tomorrow. I think ordinary people are in support. As

we are discussing this more and more and people are seen the truth,

as there talking to their neighbours and families who are

directly affected, they see the injustice and there is growing

support for the action. If you were advising someone about

the latest deal on their public service pension, what would you say

to them? A fantastic deal. I have absolutely

no sympathy on this point. In the private sector, we would die for

this deal. If anyone should strike, it should be the private sector.

I'm amazed that Nigel couldn't say there are lots of people and

support of it. These people were promised a deal. They signed up as

civil servants and then there kick in the teeth. They're getting a

tremendous pensions still. In the private sector, we have had years

of our pensions been de rated. Even this year, a private pension will

be worth 16% less than it was. I suspect you would not swap you're

pension. The average public sector's pension is just over

�5,000. You're dealing in averages. We're

talking about nurses and teachers who do the full requires service.

They're getting index-linked pensions in excess of �20,000. In

the private sector, my 21-year-old son would have to work 40 years and

pay �600 a month. How many 20 year- olds could pay that? There are

people who thought this had been settled a few years ago. If they're

going to be asked to pay about �1,000 a year more or. Work four

years longer. They will still get a worse mentioned. You are no

different from anybody else. You do not have a parallel universe. The

public sector seem to think that they do, but they don't. There is a

crisis in the public sector. But stealing a pension of a nurse is

not going to solve that problem. We are storing up a major crisis.

thousands losing their jobs at the moment, and we have had 300 more in

the West Country today alone, is it right to be fighting for pensions

at this time? Public sector workers are fighting on many fronts. There

has been a pay freeze for the last two years and it could be capped

even further. And there is an attack on pensions and jobs and

services. Let's look for solutions. Feelings

are clearly running high. Couldn't the Government levies this in?

could have done, but it has already rolled over quite significantly. No

110 years away from retirement is going to face any changes at all.

In the private sector, we face changes all times. These aren't bad.

They still come out with a really good pension. We do not get it.

You have had a gravy train up to now? The schemes are affordable

unsustainable according to the Government. This is not about

making the pensions affordable, this is about a tax on public

sector workers to pay for a deficit that they did not cause.

Thank you. The websites for local councils

across the West have details about when schools are shot and which

schools are shot or partially closed tomorrow if you are unsure.

And of course, your local radio stations will have coverage of the

strike and its impact on their breakfast programmes tomorrow.

Residents forced to move out of their homes next to a collapsed

flood wall in Bridgwater are being asked to pay for their temporary

accommodation. A section of West Quay crumbled into the River

Parrett after heavy rain three weeks ago. Eight residents have

been staying in a local YMCA, but the council is going to request a

charge of up to �90 per week to cover costs at the centre.

In sport, the chairman of Bristol City Football Club has blamed a

large wage bill for one of the highest annual deficits among

Championship Clubs. They lost �11.5 million last year and the chairman

says that while the figure will reduce eventually, the losses for

the current season could be just as bad.

Chairman Colin Sexstone says it's simple. The club has too many

players, and they're paid too much. Several players out of contract in

the summer and the wage bill will reduce then, but unless valuable

players are sold before then or the club has a good cup run, next

year's figures are likely to be just as as bad.

With businessman Stephen Lansdown as the owner, there's certainly no

cause for panic but things do need to change. We cannot go on losing

this sort of money and being totally dependent on one person,

however supportive he is. We need to get the model on a far better

basis, so it is for the club's long-term interests that we do that.

On the field, Bristol City are aiming for a fourth successive win

tonight as they travel to Watford after their 2-0 victory over

league-leaders Southampton at the weekend. The players are doing

everything that is asked of them have come in it. The confidence

that we were searching for has been found. It is very important. We

will not be complacent. A win would almost certainly take

them out of the relegation zone for the first time since early

September. You can hear that interview with

Colin Sexton infill on the Bristol pages of the BBC website.

Gloucester centre Mike Tindall will be eligible to play for England in

the New Year. The RFU announced last night that he would be re-

instated into the international set-up. It comes after the 33-year-

old appealed against a �25,000 fine and being dropped by England for

his off-the-field antics at the World Cup. The fine has been

reduced to �15,000. He says he accepts the decision but the level

of fine is not in line with other finds at his level.

Bed sheets and a pillow case belonging to Adolf Hitler have

fetched �2,000 at auction in Bristol today. The cotton cover,

which fits a single bed, has the embroidered Third Reich Eagle

stitched on to it. The 60-year-old fabric had Hitler's initials

decorating the corners. The rare items went under the hammer at

Dreweatts in Clifton and attracted a lot of attention from bidders,

who said they were keen to get their hands on a piece of history.

I think we took it from about �700 up to �2,000. I probably should

have gone to �2,100. But I had to pay VAT at 20% and tax at 40% and

we have to make a living. That sort of item, you cannot price. I had a

number of clients interested. Nadir made a mistake, I do not know.

Maybe I should have paid more. It was an internet bidder who won

the auction and paid �2,000. said he wanted to remain anonymous.

It's amazing to think this little book here was responsible for what

was today named as the best loved Christmas film of all time. And now

it has a Westcountry connection. The short story called The Greatest

Gift was turned into the film I'm sure you'll know called It's A

Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart. The film is celebrating

its 65th anniversary this year, and the book is being re-published for

the first time in decades by a company based in Bristol.

It's a classic story of redemption - a man who thinks he is worthless

saved by a guardian angel who shows him he has made a difference.

Starring James Stewart directed by Frank Capra, it was nominated for

five Oscars and today named by the Radio Times as the best Christmas

film ever. But this is where it all began - a short story by Philip Van

Doren Stern. He wrote it in 1944. This year, the opportunity to

republish six decades on, landed on the desk of a book designer in

Bristol. It is a fantastic title. I could not quite believe it had not

been printed. It is a really touching story because everybody

feels like they feel sometimes. Just to be reminded that you're

worth something and Thatcher family love you, especially at Christmas,

that is really important. The new book's based on the

original, which no-one wanted to publish. The author had to do it

himself. He sent them out as Christmas cards. One fell into the

hands of a Hollywood studio and the rest is history. Despite the

associated stardust, after designing and printing the book

from Bristol, Victoria is surprised at the level of interest. I am

overwhelmed! It has gone so well. I am taking suitcases of blokes down

to the Post Office. Every time a bell rings and Angel gets his wings.

And so the short story that no-one wanted but which led to the most

memorable film is now back to warm We'll all be watching that soon

enough and shedding a Christmas Tia! I will be sending Christmas

And now the weather. There will be more wins and

downpour tomorrow night and into Thursday. Thursday suggests a

repeat performance of today. Having said that, these are the sort of

wind speeds that we saw across the West Country. 56 miles an hour at

the top. It goes down to 40 miles an hour or so across other

districts. In Cheshire and Lancashire, three reports of

tornadoes. I am always a little bit hesitant until we see their it site

investigation. Either way, two people injured and two of those

incidents. Tomorrow will be vastly improved. It will be bright and

breezy, but for most of us it will remain dry. The cold front that

brought the feature today has moved out towards the East. The isobars

are still fairly close together, so it is a breezy set up tonight.

Further showers packing on behind. As we get into tomorrow, the when

spica back more south-westerly. That should shelter us for more

shores until later in the evening. That is some way off. Today is

showing very nicely how this cold front came in. The brighter of its

other heavier bits. It clears out towards the East and we can see the

hints of further showers moving in behind it. There will be some drier

phases tonight. There will be some wetter fizzes as well. Exactly

where the showers will focus themselves will be down to local

youngsters like were the wind is blowing. If anything, a clustering

of more showers at about 3 o'clock in the morning. As we get towards

the early hours of tomorrow and in towards daylight, it should be

large to drive. But it will be a cold night. Temperatures are

dropping to five or six degrees. Tomorrow will start with a fairly

decent set up into the morning rush-hour period. The sharp words

will get soaked up around the south-west peninsula. But few will

migrate south west inland. As we get to the evening, none of us are

likely to escape. That will be followed by another cold front into

the early hours of Thursday morning. Temperatures of 10 to 11 Celsius.

Beyond that, it looks like it gets Something very everyone! And a

quick reminder - for all the latest disruption on the strikes tomorrow,