08/05/2014 BBC Points West

combat for the first time. That's all from the BBC News.

Welcome to Points West. The main story tonight: The Prime Minister

comes West and takes on UKIP. He puts his job on the line as he

promises an EU referendum. If after the next election I could not

deliver that referendum, I would not be the Prime Minister. The other

headlines tonight, tributes to Professor Pillinger, the Bristol

boy. Banksy saves the day but how much will his pig race for the

struggling youth club? It is all about the flavour, we meet to West

Country contestants battling for a place in the Masterchef final. ``

his picture. The Prime Minister has spent the day campaigning in the

West Country. David Cameron visited Chippenham and Wotton`under`Edge,

before coming to the outskirts of Bristol for an election rally. Last

time his party won three of the South West's six seats in the

European Parliament ` but the Conservatives fear they'll lose out

this time to UKIP. Let's join our Political Editor Paul Barltrop who's

been following the PM. Good evening. This is the Bristol and Bath science

Park. 300 Conservatives were here and they have left in the last few

minutes. The Prime Minister has been campaigning around the West Country

and everywhere he goes, so does this van. This is an important election

for the Conservatives and they face challenges from UKIP. They are

trying to save three seats in the European Parliament. They are trying

to hold onto councils like Swindon and this is been last big test

before the next election. Every constituency he has visited has been

a key marginal. First stop Chippenham and a big photo

opportunity. Everything was carefully`controlled except, that

is, the weather. Thank you for coming out in the rain with your

posters. He hopes to win over Euro`sceptics ` in both the

population at large and his party. I will not be Prime Minister after the

next election unless I can be certain that that pledge of an in

alt referendum will be delivered. `` in alt referendum. Location

mattered. Chippenham will be a key battle ground in next year's general

election. So too his next stop ` the Stroud constituency, and a tour of

engineering firm Renishaw. He wanted to focus on the country's good

economic prospects. But at a question and answer session, the

first topic was UKIP. Nigel Farage, the first question, how much of a

threat is he to the British industry? How worried are you about

him and his future? Nigel Farage, two words as you put it, I am

thinking of two other words! His challenge: to persuade people he'll

keep this referendum pledge. You have made a pledge before and broken

that pledge. I do not accept that. I said that while there was a Lisbon

treaty we should have a referendum on the treaty. By the time I became

Prime Minister, that treaty had been put into law by 27 countries. I do

not accept that point. His day in the West ended with a rally. The

activists' mood was upbeat, but they know UKIP's advance could hurt them

in next year's general election. Of course, it hurts me if people do not

vote Conservative, that is the only way you can seek a continuation of

our economic plan and recovery, and the only time you can secure the

referendum on Europe. Let's fight and let's win. He left, having

pepped up his troops for the final two hard weeks' of campaigning. The

big question is `should Britain stay in or get out of the EU? No

political affiliation here but let speak to the chief executive of the

science park. You have lots of companies here. What is your view on

membership of the EU? I think it is important to stay in. It is

important for businesses and 50% of our exports go to the EU. The UK is

the number one foreign destination for investment, and that is

important to large companies. It gives them prevent access to the $17

trillion EU market. Small firms do not see it the same way many would

argue. I think they do. There was a lot of funding for innovation and

the UK does very well in accessing that. We get about ?700 million a

year and that is important to small companies. The final point would be

that it gives us negotiating strength in trade agreements around

the world. Thank you for talking to us. David Cameron has left now but

more campaigns to come in the run`up to election day on May the 27th.

Thank you. Join me for Sunday Politics this weekend. Three men

from Stroud have admitted lying to police who were investigating the

death of a Gloucestershire man in a Manchester nightclub. Nick Bonnie

died after taking drugs last year. Manchester Crown Court heard that

the three attempted to pervert the course of justice. Our

Gloucestershire reporter, Steve Knibbs, was there. The Warehouse

Project in Manchester ` one the UK's biggest nightclubs and where Nick

Bonnie and his friends headed for a night out last September. Nick took

what he thought was ecstasy but collapsed at the club after becoming

very ill. He died later in the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Several

others at the warehouse project that night also had to receive hospital

treatment for symptoms related to so called "designer drugs". James

Churchill has already admitted supplying class A drugs that night.

Dean Neale and Paul Tabb also admitted to possessing class As.

Churchill, Neale and Simon Lloyd`Jones, here in the blue tie,

also admitted today that they perverted the course of justice by

lying to police investigating Nick Bonnie's death. Lies which, the

court heard, police officers unknowingly repeated at an inquest

hearing. Nick Bonnie worked for the Prince's Trust. His girlfriend and

parents were in court in Manchester to follow proceedings. Nick's Mum,

Pauline, works for a drugs rehabilitation charity in

Gloucestershire. Following her son's death The Warehouse project

reiterated its zero drugs policy and its reported that security staff now

use sniffer dogs as part of it's attempts to keep drugs out of the

club. It also employs a team of medics in case anyone becomes ill.

This was a short hearing today. They will be back to be sentenced in

July, after admitting various drugs offences and lying to the police.

Paul did not enter a plea today, citing problems with his legal aid,

but will enter charges for perverting the course of justice

next month. A cash`strapped youth club in Bristol which faced closure

has had a change of fortune ` after becoming the proud owner of a piece

of Banksy artwork. The secretive artist sent them a note officially

giving them his latest piece of work ` which experts have said could be

worth half a million pounds. Andrew Plant reports. The recession meant

tough times at this club. It's been training young people for more than

100 years. It faced closing down. But when a Banksy appeared outside

they quickly claimed it and said they'd sell it and use the cash to

keep going. But it wasn't that simple. The picture was impounded

while its ownership was established. For three weeks it was on display at

the Bristol Museum. The message of the piece called "Mobile Lovers"

mirrored by the thousands who came to see it. You have my blessing to

do what you feel is right with the police. `` piece. Now the artist

himself has settled the dispute with a letter to the club who are now the

proud owners of a genuine Banksy. They intend to sell the Banksy of

course although there is some debate over how much it's worth. To be told

that he is impressed with the way we have dealt with it over the last

couple of weeks and the fact we have stood our ground is very important.

The club say they are going to leave the Banksy on the wall. They do not

have the security to keep it safe or get it insured. I have heard it may

go for ?4 million. I think maybe ?100,000. Banksy is famously elusive

so the letter itself is also rare. Experts say the whole back story of

this picture could make it even more attractive to a Banksy collector

with a big bank balance. I am sure there will be lots of reaction on

social media. I do not think I have ?4 million! I will do a collection!

They say it is tough at the top, don't they? Bristol Rovers have

sacked their Director of Football John Ward. He was manager of the

club until March when he handed over the reigns to Darrell Clarke. It

follows Rovers' relegation to non`League football at the weekend.

Damian Derrick has the details. This was not the vision that John Ward

had for himself or the club when he changed jobs with five weeks of the

season left. Rovers managed just two winds in eight games under Darryl

Clark. I think it is the right time. It looks awkward, I understand

that, but it is a long`term situation that is coming to fruition

and we need to make sure everything is OK and then there is a bright

future for the club. Darryl, markets and myself need to work on the

future of the club. With relegation from the football league, then the

consequences come. We need to look at making some radical changes. I am

afraid that John is one of the casualties. Economically, the

condition we find ourselves in, we cannot have a director of football

and a first`team manager. John Ward joined the club for the second time

in his career in December 2012. Under him Rovers form improved

dramatically as they moved from the bottom to mid table. This season

there was hope and expectation for even better ` but Saturday put paid

to that. So Ward's decision to change jobs means there now isn't

one for him at all. I understand that the manager is on BBC Radio

Bristol tomorrow night. This is David and Alex with Thursday's

Points West, on this rather damp and drizzly evening. Stay in the dry

with us as we've got plenty more on our menu tonight. Including:

Teaching the teachers. Why it's out of the classroom and into the school

kitchen for a bit of veg prep. And we've got a sneak preview of

tonight's Masterchef ` as we welcome the two semi`finalists doing the

West Country proud. As you may have seen already today, the death has

been announced of the pioneering Bristol space scientist Professor

Colin Pillinger. He was 70 and had suffered a brain haemorrhage. Born

in Kingswood, he worked for NASA and went on to lead the attempt to land

a probe on Mars. Andy Howard looks back at a man who travelled far, but

never forgot his West Country roots. in Kingswood, he worked for NASA and

went on to lead the attempt to "A proper British boffin". "A modern

day Charles Darwin" . "A proud West Country man" . Colin Pillinger,

sideburns and all, was a scientist famed for space missions on a

shoestring. He wanted to see if there was life on Mars and made

this, the Beagle Two. He said "If a Martian breaks wind, we'll sniff him

out." But, Colin's big mission ultmately failed ` the Beagle Two

was lost in space. His mind was millions of miles above the earth,

but his heart was here in the west. He grew up here in Kingswood. He

writes in his book, I made my appearance on the scene on Sunday,

the 9th of May, 1943. I came into the world at 43, Victoria Park. The

midwife arrived drunk. In his words, not the most auspicious start. We

lit a petrol rocket at the back of the house but it blew up and parts

of it caught Collin in the eye, hence the scar that he carried for

the rest of his life. From the back garden ` to the laboratories in

Bristol, where he met his wife Judy, and his career took off. He became a

rock and roll scientist ` a friend of pop groups and the media `

influential to a generation. A great inspiration and a person who can get

things done. That is a hard thing to do whether you are in industry,

politics or whatever. Furthermore, he could work with people and

inspire them and get them to do things. Bristol is proud of Colin

Pillinger, and the feeling's mutual. I think we proved the point over and

over again. We are not slow on the uptake, Bristolians. Tributes

followed from all over the world, maybe the most poignant: "RIP Colin

Pillinger ` Mars will shine a little brighter tonight." A great

communicator and always great fun to interview. Yes, great character and

a real loss. It is one of the most important events in the world

Equestrian calendar and today the Badminton Horse Trials got underway

in Gloucestershire. Riders from across the world including former

Olympic champions are competing over four days. It also means a lot to

local businesses, with over 100,000 spectators expected to brave the

testing weather conditions. Our reporter Will Glennon was among

them. It's difficult enough to make a horse dance, let alone in wind and

driving rain. But Badminton got underway today with the dressage.

The first of three events that riders have to master to triumph at

one of the world's most prestigious horse trials. I have written many

times over the years but every time I arrive, it is exciting to be here.

`` ridden. It is a real honour to be taking part in a great event. More

than 80 horses with riders from 15 different countries are here. The

Brits are always very strong, they are on home turf and they have some

incredible riders. The Kiwis are strong and we have a good team

around us at the moment and we will give them a good run for their

money. Saturday's test is the cross country course. It's had a new

designer for the first time in 25 years. The brief was to make it more

difficult. This is fence five on the new cross`country course.

Technically challenging, the first jump is high and wide, and the

ground drops away for the next two. The whole course is designed to see

who are the best riders and horses. It is a technical course for the

modern era. It is a notch up form the last few years. `` from the last

few years. Babington is the ultimate challenge for horsemanship. ``

badminton. From now until Sunday hundreds of thousands of people are

expected through the gates. Cross country day can attract as many as a

quarter of a million alone. It's a key time for local businesses ` even

if today was a better day for raincoat and umbrella sales. From

September, all schools will have to teach cookery, following pressure

from chefs and health campaigners. But what if you're a teacher whose

skills in the kitchen are somewhat lacking? Well, help is now at hand,

as Sally Challoner reports. Time for a cookery lesson at Knowle Park

Primary in Bristol. On the menu today ` pasta, with pesto made from

scratch. But hang on ` who's going to teach them? With a whole

generation lacking basic kitchen skills ` the teachers themselves are

being sent back to the classroom. They are going to be dealing with

hot things, getting a sense of awareness. Children these days eat

so much packaged food that they do not know what makes it all come

together. They will not know how to make pesto, other than getting it

out of a jar. Abi Roberts has been part of a pilot scheme, learning new

skills at the Square Food Foundation in Knowle, and then cooking up new

lessons in class. A lot of teachers themselves do not have great cooking

skills and they are learning themselves as well. We learn with

groups of children and we are doing really simple and delicious, healthy

food. Tonight Barney is launching the scheme to head teachers from

across the city, as part of Bristol Food Connections. And it's got some

celebrity backing. Yes, we do need to teach the teachers and we need to

make it easy for teachers because they have massive responsibility. We

should integrate it into maths, English, geography, history. What he

is doing and what many of us are doing is allowing teachers to do

their jobs easier and food allows them to do this. I was quite excited

the that only a bit nervous with hot stoves, knives and hot water. It was

an exciting project and it has been brilliant and they have proved that

it is doable in the classroom. But Maths, science, geography and

healthy eating on a plate ` cooking doesn't get tougher than this. Well,

joining us in the studio are two women who might disagree ` because

as we all know cooking doesn't get tougher than Masterchef! With us are

two of the final five in this year's competition. Ping Coombes is from

Bath, via Malaysia, and Angela Langford is from Merriott, near

Crewkerne in Somerset. And in last night's programme they did the West

proud. Today, two of you really stood out as being solid crooks.

Those two crooks, congratulations, you stay with us. `` crooks. ``

cooks. That was moving. How tough was the competition? Very tough and

very, very tough. I do not think people realise. For us, it is very

tough and emotional stop it takes every waking minute where you dream

about it and talk about it and think about it. It must be interesting

looking back and looking at it from another perspective. That is true.

When you are in it, you are so consumed by everything that life

just goes on hold. Now it is nice to watch it and relax. You seem to be

really good friends on the show as well. There was a moving moment on

the show last night where you all had a group hug. Yes, we are really,

really good friends and we still are, we keep in touch. We always say

that it is a competition, but we did not expect to go into the

competition and make very good friends, so I am really grateful. It

is true that for rivals, you are often checking on each other, it is

very nice. For you, Angela, they seem to adore the flavour but they

nag you about presentation. It is about the flavour, though, was that

challenging or demotivating? Not demotivating, it was infuriating! I

tried so, so hard to make it look pretty, but I didn't. Do you think

that is pretty? I would eat that! Do you know what? When they said that I

had not nailed the presentation, thought that is as good as it gets!

Last night, you cooked for the cast of Eastenders. What was that like?

The first thing I remember was thinking, oh, my goodness, it is

Eastenders! I remember Angela going, wow! The second thing I remember was

it being very cold. It was very cold that day, but once we knew what we

needed to do, we could have been anywhere, we could have been cooking

for anyone. We needed to keep our heads down and just do it. You are

on TV tonight. Where are you tonight? We are at a castle tonight

with an amazing chef John Campbell. That is where Anne Boleyn used to

live, and look what happened to her! Yes! Good luck tonight. I know your

mother would be very proud of you because I know you did it in homage

to. Thank you. Thank you, we look forward to seeing you on TV tonight.

Let's go to the weather, is it still raining Ian? There with some drizzle

in the air but the radar cannot pick it up. It has improved across some

parts of the West Country but it will improve more so tomorrow. Most

areas should see a dry day bar a few showers. Another breezy day but the

sunshine will be around to offset it. This is how things shape up. I

shower into the early hours but into tomorrow, a little rich of sorts,

the high coming in. Some areas have brightened up across Somerset. We

lose the drizzle towards the east, as shower or two and there will be a

good deal of dry weather tonight and into tomorrow morning. Mild

temperatures tonight at eight or 11 Celsius. Tomorrow, barring that

shower, most areas will see a dry day, a fair amount of sunshine as

well. Variable amounts of clouds but it will be windy again. Gusts of 30

mph. UV levels are quite high tomorrow. By the time we get late

into the evening, we will see the first signs of further rain at

hearing into the West Somerset, but that will be late. `` further

heading into the West of Somerset. Heavy rain in the morning on

Saturday, brighter spells in the afternoon. Sunday, the showers will

begin to wane. The better of the two days. I could hear the birds there.

Masterchef is on BBC One at eight. I am going for hours cheese sandwich.

See you tomorrow. `` a cheese sandwich.

No-one would have believed, in the first years of the 21st century,

that Britain's affairs were being watched and scrutinised

With the help of our three political parties,

who lie to the British public about their intentions,

minds immeasurably more bureaucratic than ours

slowly and surely drew their plans against us.

smashing our democracy and destroying our laws...