27/01/2017 London News

It will be a very significant change, partly because the estate

in London hospitals is worth massively more than in any other

It could mean a cash boost for the NHS as well as

And under a Donald Trump administration, all lives matter!

The fiery preacher who opened Donald Trump's election speeches

on why Londoners shouldn't fear his presidency.

Plus, the funding row over babies with an allergy to milk -

some parents face losing free prescriptions for

And the magical lantern festival lighting up the capital

for the Chinese New Year of the rooster.

Hello and welcome to the programme with me, Riz Lateef.

First this evening, two of the most pressing

problems facing the capital - a deepening crisis in the NHS

Well, this evening, we can reveal that there's a radical plan

to tackle both issues, by giving London

NHS trusts here could be allowed to sell off spare

land and keep the money, whereas in the past, it would have

A cash boost for the NHS and more land for affordable homes.

Here's our political correspondent, Karl Mercer.

The great and the good of London politics, in a room, talking about

more powers and more money for the capital, with a plea from the city's

mayor. The only way we'll will make

progress in this agenda in the years ahead is if London speaks with one

united for use. Siddique Khan wants more of the tax

London raises kept here. Everything from stamp duty to tourist tax. It's

big wish list, but BBC London has learned there is a more real deal on

the table. Crucially, top officials here at the Treasury are involved.

As a top officials at the Department of Health and even number ten

Downing St. It's a deal that means that London's hospitals, unlike

those around the country, will be able to keep the money they get from

selling off spare land. So instead of handing the money back to the

Treasury as they do at the moment, hospitals will be then the able to

use the money to reinvest in local health services. The land could then

be used in conjunction with their mayor to build affordable housing

for key workers. It's hoped the deal will oversee the process of selling

land all over London. It'll be a very significant change,

because the estate of hospitals in London is worth massively more than

any other part of the country. It would be an opportunity for using

the land values that are often used in London in the private sector for

a direct public sector reinvestment, either in hospital buildings or

potentially in hospital services under stress.

It's understood the deal should be finalised within weeks. The mayor is

not prepared to give much away today, however.

What I will say is this, I have been impressed by the compositions I'd

had with central Government about them recognising that this isn't

about party politics, it's about wrecking Isaac that when decisions

are made at the coal face, they tend to be better. -- recognising that

decisions. Does this give you some hope that

you will get further powers as you've as for?

I'm an optimist. And politicians tend to be optimists

if they know there's deal around the corner.

We heard from Sadiq Khan there, and today he also backed

a call to allow London to introduce a tax on tourists -

all part of the mayor's proposal to devolve more powers to City Hall.

Asad Ahmad can tell us more, he's in Covent Garden.

I'm amongst Torres and onto riskier in Covent Garden, which attracts

millions of visitors every year. But is it right to level an extra tax on

Theresa just want to come here and spent a night in a hotel here in

London? It's not a new idea, Boris Johnson approved at the idea, though

it go anywhere. The new mayor has already paid a tourist tracks if you

have paid a visit to cities across the world, including New York, which

levies attacks of over 13% on top of your hotel bill. In Paris, the

figure is your normal bill plus 10%. Then additional fees of a few euros

on top that. Enron, it's a bit simpler, up to 2 euros per room per

night. Does matter in Rome, it's bit simpler. There hasn't been too much

opposition to it. I get furious, as a traveller,

when I get to Rome and suddenly, when I'm checking out,

they say, oh, yeah, you paid in advance for the room,

but we'll need an extra 10 euros It's not clear yet exactly how it

will work in London, but most certainly, the hotel

industry, as well as all the tourists, will be very upset

by yet more taxation. Simon Calder, very well respected

travel writer, there. What about tourists here in Covent Garden, what

do they think about a potential tourist tax?

I think to spend more pounds for a tourist tax is fine.

I come from Turkey, I think the living expenses in London are ready

pricey, so giving this tax might not be very encouraging for tourists to

come. There is a lot of support amongst

politicians, not just the merit of London for this tax. They say it's a

small tax that could make a massive difference to London and the lives

of Londoners and tourists alike. But does it also sent a message out

about Brexit and London being open for business, doesn't contradict

that? Get people talking. There will be a few steps before anything like

this comes into force. It seems there are growing

calls for more powers It's one of the big words around and

politics at the moment. If politicians aren't talking about

Brexit or Trump, they also talk about devolution. We're seen

institutions around the country getting devolved powers from central

Government. Other regions like Manchester and the West Country

being given more powers, keep your own money, sort things out -

it hasn't happened in London, despite continued demands from Boris

Johnson and Siddique Khan under this London finance commission. This will

be a big deal for London, this NHS deal. Because the NHS is in crisis,

in London, more than anywhere else in the country. The Government are

starting to listen. At the Treasury is willing to release the purse

strings a lot about to the NHS, where might they go in London? What

they go down the line of those extra taxes to be kept here? Perhaps the

tourist tax, because I be so much of the Government handing over money.

Thank you. As London marks Holocaust Memorial

Day, one women who survived the camps as a child tells

us her story. Next, the row over special

formula for babies. At the moment, parents whose babies

have an allergy to milk can get it as a substitute,

free on prescription. But this programme has learnt

that there are plans to withdraw funding for those prescriptions

in at least two London boroughs What has money got?

Seven-month-old son has not consign your allergies. He needs a special

formula to help manage them, which is mother gets a prescription for

from her GP in Croydon. But she has been told that could soon stop,

because the group which decides how prescriptions are funded in Croydon

needs to make cuts. Prasanna, AU days, it would cost us

?40 every two days to buy his milk. Norma formula is about ?40 a week,

and his will be at ?140 per week. It's medical need.

Prescribing in Croydon amounts to millions of pounds per year. 9%of

the Clinical Commissioning Group's total budget. It's currently in

deficit as safe for% of its budget this year. Baby's milk is not the

only area the CCG is try to make savings. In a meeting last year,

decision was made to try and reduce the describing of gluten free foods,

vitamin D foods, eczema cream, and baby milk in an effort to save

?600,000 per year. In a statement, the group's chair said...

And Croydon isn't alone. Richmond is also cutting the formula. Nine other

CCGs across London say they're looking at how to make savings on

restriction funding. Babies with these allergies are

particularly vulnerable. From a CCG perspective, it would make more

sense to invest in education and primary care to make sure that the

babies get diagnosed early and don't need to have special formula is

longer than they need to, that would lead to significant savings.

At the CCGs says it's working with health professionals before

influencing any plans. Sam's mother says this is one cost that families

like hers cannot afford. A short while ago said -- the premise said

that the president and first lady would be coming to the UK on a state

visit after a invitation from the Queen. Mark bands here is the

preacher who played a key He's been telling London is why they

shouldn't fear a Trump presidency. Help me like the next president of

the United States of America! Donald J Trump! Shut Trump!

The rallying cry that in the end succeeded. But in London, Pastor

Mark Burns says he's surprised and saddened by the unpopularity of his

new president. He is not as he has been per trade

in the media. What about Muslim Londoners who may

be concerned about going to America. Because, if your present had his

way, they might not be allowed? That isn't true. The president has

not waged war against Islam. He has suggested that Muslims are

based from entering the US, he has said that.

That me finish. This is the media taking bits and pieces of whatsit is

it set on creating the false narrative that isn't true. The

president has made it clear, he has done nothing other than President

Jimmy Carter did, by proposing a temporary ban against territories

that are supporting radical terrorist groups.

President Trump didn't say that though, he didn't say, not the good

guys, he said, I will consider banning Muslims from entering the

United States. There was no nuance on that. Is that not the problem

with Donald Trump? Donald Trump has made it very clear

he's not a polished politician, he's learning.

Donald Trump said something which upset many Londoners, he said there

were many areas in London that were no go areas, where police feared for

their lies. That's not true. Have you seen those areas, will you tell

him he is vitally incorrect? I have not in those areas, but have

only seen a small part of London. If you say it isn't true, being a

Londoner, I would take your word for it.

The former Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, says the immigration

system is failing those who need it, and

"staff don't even know their own rules".

His damning comments follow the case of an eminent professor who's been

living here for 40 years and was wrongly denied

British citizenship on a technicality.

Reconnecting, remembering... This professor is many things to

many people. An academic, psychoanalysis, an employer to many

people at her surgery in Hampstead. She is also a wife to a British

husband. I have worked and pay taxes for 40 years.

I been part of British society. When she applied for citizenship she

was rejected. Shouldn't have a residency permit even though she had

been already granted permanent leave to remain.

That trust you have built up between yourself and the country that you

have adopted. That you think has adopted you, suddenly rejects you

and doesn't want to acknowledge that contribution any more. It's

incredibly painful. She's far from alone. Latest figures

show recognise those of Europeans had been applying for residency. We

have seen the single biggest increase in a decade. More than

22,000 Europeans applied in the year to 2015. Compare that to the three

months immediately after the referendum. That doubled to over

56,000 applications. The is suggestion the rules -- there is no

suggestion the rules had been made harder since Brexit, they've always

been tough. There is a suggestion of disco nation against you nationals

who have never had to apply before. As the EU National you'd have

freedom of movement, so a lot of people might have trouble listing

every absence from the UK in the last five years.

The Home Office say they are always looking to use reminder process.

Nick Clegg says the Government should now guarantee all European

residency rights here, irrespective of what other governments choose for

Brits abroad. You can't treat people like a

bargaining chip. They're not people whose wealth and emotional well

being and commitment of this country should be bargained away. It is such

a cynical, bloodless way of treating human beings that have nothing but

good will towards the United Kingdom.

As from today, the professor is British. Cue the national anthem.

She won her battle, but says it has been a long, expensive and painful

process. Despite Government assurances that they want to

guarantee residency rights are other Europeans here, becoming British

after Brexit has become a very different feeling from what you hope

for. I've come west to see the Chinese

lanterns of the East. Glowing installations

in Chiswick House and Gardens to welcome in the year

of the rooster. Today, London pauses

to mark one of darkest chapters in human history -

remembering the millions of Jews who were murdered

during the Second World War. Well, one woman from Finchley

who survived the horrors of the concentration camps

is Susan Pollack - who was only 14 when she was separated from her

mother in Aushwitz-Birkenau. Now in her 80s, she's

dedicated her adult life to sharing her story

with schoolchildren, thank you for coming in. We do

appreciate that some memories can't be easy to revisit. Can I ask how

vivid your memories of the camp are? Very much so. I remember it quite

clearly. The main events, particularly. And it's always with

me. With me and the sense that I repeat it. I go to schools, and have

been doing so for many years now, and also I hold it due to myself.

How does a 14-year-old girl get through the horrors of that

experience? In my own case, I had, not

consciously, but ie withdrew within myself. I withdrew from the horrors

of the outside that was present for my whole year that I was

incarcerated. I dismissed it as much as I could, because I wouldn't have

been able to survive otherwise. And by the time of liberation in

1945, you were suffering from TV, typhoid and severe malnutrition.

What do you remember about that moment of liberation, realising you

had been freed? Well, it wasn't, by then, I was very

much dehumanised, and had left any form of wishes and hopes. But at the

same time, I remember it quite clearly, when I had been picked up

by deliberate errors. -- by the liberators. He picked me up with

such gentleness. I was seconds away from death. But I remember that.

Later on, when I met the major of that liberation team, I asked him,

what could that goodness into your heart that you were so good to me?

And that opened up a channel of hope in me.

Dimensions that you share your story with schoolchildren, when I asked,

when you look to the future, a safer future, how optimistic do you feel?

I think... I do have hope, but at the same time, I'm quite a realist

as well, realising that memories have been challenged, and it needs

to be repeated constantly. We need to talk about it, the importance of

having a Memorial Day like we have now. And I'm grateful that the

Holocaust is being taught at schools as well. And that I've had the

immense privilege of doing it with the help of the Holocaust

educational trust, and many other organisations.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, it's privilege to

have you here. Thank you.

The last time these two teams met in the FA Cup,

So all eyes will be on Stamford Bridge tomorrow to see

if Brentford can pull off a win against billionaire club Chelsea.

Brentford were in League 1 when they almost caused a cup shock

And they lead again here, Brentford, what a story

It took a ?50 million worth of striker to deny them the victory.

Plenty has changed at Brentford since then, including promotion

But the challenge of facing Chelsea remains the same.

It's the toughest draw we could have got.

The leaders of the Premier League, away from home,

But it's one we're looking forward to, and hopefully we can

compete and give a good account of ourselves.

There's a lot of belief in our squad.

And the players believe they won't be overwhelmed

We've played at big stadiums, we've played in front to big crowds.

The occasion's not really going to affect us, we've just got

to make sure we turn up and stick to our game plan.

It's not exactly a level playing field - Brentford's playing squad

Brentford's owner Matthew Benham has put in around

Roman Abramovich has invested at least a billion at Chelsea.

Both clubs are hoping to build new homes.

Chelsea's, over nine times that amount.

The Bees hope that moving grounds will go some way

Griffin Park holds 12,000, Stamford Bridge holds 45,000.

They have several thousand people in hospitality.

I can fit less than 100 into Griffin Park.

So the new stadium, if we get into the Premier League,

will actually helped to make us truly competitive.

So, as Brentford prepare for another trip to Stamford Bridge in the

FA Cup, the real aim is to be playing there

in the Premier League every season.

Turning now to the colour and light of Chinese New Year.

Tomorrow night there'll be celebrations in the capital to see

in the year of the rooster - especially as here in the capital,

there's a long-established Chinese community.

Wendy Hurrell is at a festival in Chiswick -

That's writer. For some 2000 years, the Lantern Festival has become a

significant part of Chinese New Year celebrations. The ones here at

Chiswick House and Gardens are a little younger than that. It's been

going to years, but all around the gardens here are beautiful glowing

installations, handmade in China. They make up the Silk Road, that

ancient network of trade route that linked the East to the West. Here we

have the Tang Dynasty Palace, and you travel along glittering walkways

of the beautiful reds which is so reminiscent of the Chinese

decorations. The Silk Road would have travelled through countries

like Egypt. Glittering off the lake, beautiful colours and like. -- and

light. The person responsible for this beautiful light show is Ian

Xiang. Why did you decide to use the Silk Road as a theme this year?

The Silk Road is an ancient route connecting China to the rest of the

world. It was along the Silk Road, the culture and colour is so

vibrant. We hope everybody coming here can find something to celebrate

and enjoy themselves. How will you be celebrating in

London this weekend? In London, people will have family

together to eat dumplings, and we also hope people will come to the

magic lantern festival to celebrate Chinese New Year in style.

Dumplings, that sounds delicious! If you need some light in these cold,

long winter evenings, the fiery wrist will be crowing to the end of

February. I will try to say happy New Year and

Mandarin, you can try it out yourself.

Tomasz is here with the weather. Hello.

The good news, for folks who want milder weather, that's it, the main

headline this weekend, milder is the word. The last couple of days,

especially yesterday, what was with that cold? Below freezing during the

day at lunchtime, -1 at High Wycombe during the day. It's turned milder

now, but with that, it'll turn cloudy. Damp weather on the way. You

can't have it both ways in a situation, we're going to have to

get the cloud and rain of the Atlantic to bring that milder

weather. This time last night, right now, my car was frosting up already.

That won't happen tonight, the wind coming in from the south and south

west. Tomorrow, grey and damp in the morning, later in the day it will

brighten up. It will probably happen after the sun sets, so overall,

grey, cloudy, damp picture for most of the day. Tomorrow evening, the

weather clears up, and will have celebrations in central London for

the Chinese New Year. It's it looking like? Temperatures around 6

degrees, dipping to five mid-evening. Sunday, more rain on

the way, so Sunday at the two will be the soggy day. But look at that,

we haven't seen that from while, 10 degrees is that spectacular for

London, but a lot of milder than what we've had. Next week, much

milder, temperatures into double figures, at the moment it looks like

winter is kind of on hold. Soggy Sunday, eh? Thank you very

much. That's all we've got

time for this evening, Whatever you re doing,

have a wonderful weekend.