:00:00. > :00:00.That's all from the BBC News at Six, so it's goodbye from me, and on
:00:00. > :00:11.Hello, and welcome to Look East In the programme tonight:
:00:12. > :00:14.Accusations of bullying and resignations.
:00:15. > :00:25.What's going on in one of our local Labour parties?
:00:26. > :00:29.I think local democracy has effectively stopped working.
:00:30. > :00:32.As police say they'll take no further action against him, a
:00:33. > :00:36.gangmaster claims his business and his health have been ruined.
:00:37. > :00:44.Preparing for the French. The five Saints set to do battle in Paris.
:00:45. > :00:45.And. The school for sweeps. The family business passing on the
:00:46. > :01:00.skills for cleaning chimneys. Good evening.
:01:01. > :01:05.The Labour MP for Luton South says that democracy no longer exists in
:01:06. > :01:08.part of his own constituency party. Our Sunday Politics programme has
:01:09. > :01:12.uncovered complaints that a number of people in the Labour group are
:01:13. > :01:15.signing up dozens of new members, in a bid to influence who stands in
:01:16. > :01:26.local elections. There are claims of bullying, and one councillor has
:01:27. > :01:30.resigned. Here's Andrew Sinclair. Ed Miliband in Luton, just a couple
:01:31. > :01:33.of months ago. This is the town that has kept the Labour flame alive in
:01:34. > :01:37.the eastern region. An example of good party organisation to inspire
:01:38. > :01:45.others. But, behind the smiles, all has not been well. The issue has
:01:46. > :01:50.been flagged up many a time. And, quite recently, as things have
:01:51. > :01:55.started to move into the election gear, it has become more apparent.
:01:56. > :01:58.It's called membership stacking where one or two people allegedly go
:01:59. > :02:01.out of their way to recruit dozens of new members, in order to
:02:02. > :02:06.influence candidate selections. I find it a regular that a whole
:02:07. > :02:09.household will become Labour activists overnight.
:02:10. > :02:12.This Labour councillor is one of several people who claims the
:02:13. > :02:19.practice is widespread in Luton I have seen total strangers turn up
:02:20. > :02:23.to the AGM and never seen again It begs the question, who are they
:02:24. > :02:28.when they come from, do they even though they belong to the Labour
:02:29. > :02:32.Party? Internal documents leaked to the BBC
:02:33. > :02:35.show that, in most parts of Luton South, Labour Party membership has
:02:36. > :02:39.increased by just over 100% since 2010. But here, in the Biscot ward,
:02:40. > :02:47.it's gone up by 314%. Most of the new members apparently recruited by
:02:48. > :02:50.the same two people. In a private email to the local MP Gavin Shuker,
:02:51. > :02:53.the party chairman complains that, in Biscot, the democratic process is
:02:54. > :02:56.nonexistent. Last week, a Luton councillor, Robin Harris, suddenly
:02:57. > :03:00.resigned. He said some of his colleagues were using underhand
:03:01. > :03:08.tactics, and packing the membership. I think in parts of my local party,
:03:09. > :03:13.local democracy effectively has stopped working. There are wards in
:03:14. > :03:16.my own constituency where the membership has been packed with four
:03:17. > :03:22.times the number of members than when I started as an MP. Labour will
:03:23. > :03:26.not comment on internal party matters but says it is satisfied all
:03:27. > :03:29.selections have been properly carried out.
:03:30. > :03:34.There is no formal investigation under way, that would look bad"
:03:35. > :03:40.election. But I understand officials in the regional party 's are closely
:03:41. > :03:43.watching Luton South. Those who are allegedly behind all
:03:44. > :03:46.this deny any involvement, and say those who are complaining are bad
:03:47. > :03:49.losers. Luton South isn't another Falkirk scandal, it's an internal
:03:50. > :03:55.party row. But it's embarrassing for Labour, and a lot of members want to
:03:56. > :03:59.see it sorted out soon. Our political editor Deborah
:04:00. > :04:06.McGurran is here. Deborah, some developments in this story in the
:04:07. > :04:10.past hour? We were expecting you to be talking
:04:11. > :04:14.to MP Gavin Shuker who we were just hearing from in the report. But he
:04:15. > :04:18.has pulled out at short notice, saying that he understands that the
:04:19. > :04:31.Labour Party will be making moves, and he doesn't feel he can comment
:04:32. > :04:34.at the moment. This It's no secret that he's been keen for an internal
:04:35. > :04:37.investigation team to be called in, to have a look at what's been
:04:38. > :04:40.happening inside this party, at these allegations of stacking. My
:04:41. > :04:44.guess is, that's what's on the cards.
:04:45. > :04:52.How long has this been going on We've been told this has been going
:04:53. > :05:00.on for some time. There is a history of internal strife in the party but
:05:01. > :05:03.it's been kept under wraps. The figures we saw in the report, of new
:05:04. > :05:06.members joining, have caused fresh concerns which are coming to the
:05:07. > :05:22.surface. We've seen that resignation in the party. What we do know,
:05:23. > :05:27.though, is that the party won't want this to drag on.
:05:28. > :05:31.There's more on that, and the rest of the week's political news, on the
:05:32. > :05:33.Sunday Politics at 11am, this Sunday on BBC One.
:05:34. > :05:38.A court has heard today that a 75`year`old woman killed her
:05:39. > :05:40.husband, as part of a suicide pact. Sheila Sampford, from Milton Keynes,
:05:41. > :05:45.admitted the murder of her 83`year`old husband, who was
:05:46. > :05:49.suffering from cancer. Jessica Cooper reports from Luton Crown
:05:50. > :05:52.Court. Sheila Sampford appeared in court
:05:53. > :05:56.via video link from prison. When asked how she pleaded to the charge
:05:57. > :06:04.of murdering her husband, she said, guilty.
:06:05. > :06:07.It was on the 5th of July last year that police were called to a house
:06:08. > :06:10.in Spoonley Wood, Bancroft Park and found John Sampford who'd been
:06:11. > :06:13.strangled to death. Neighbours have described them as a lovely, genuine
:06:14. > :06:17.couple who'd been married for 5 years. Saying John was Sheila's
:06:18. > :06:22.rock, and he'd been receiving treatment for leukaemia. The court
:06:23. > :06:27.heard today that Sheila Sampford told police the death was part of a
:06:28. > :06:31.suicide pact. The prosecution said the issue to consider was if she
:06:32. > :06:34.believed the killing was an act of mercy. The defence told the court:
:06:35. > :06:39."The only matter is whether he asked her to do what she then did to him."
:06:40. > :06:42.Sheila Sampford is due back in court next month, when the judge will
:06:43. > :06:46.decide if he should impose an automatic life sentence. The
:06:47. > :06:47.sentence she's given will depend on whether the judge believes she
:06:48. > :06:57.carried out a mercy killing. A gangmaster says his life, his
:06:58. > :07:09.health and his business have been ruined, in the aftermath of police
:07:10. > :07:12.raids last year. Last night, he was told no further police action will
:07:13. > :07:15.be taken against him. But the Gangmasters Licensing Authority says
:07:16. > :07:17.it's revoked his licence because of breaches in standards. And that ban
:07:18. > :07:29.remains in force, pending an appeal. Dawn raids last October across the
:07:30. > :07:33.fence as police investigated allegations of migrant workers were
:07:34. > :07:40.being exploited. This man was also arrested in that operation. He ran
:07:41. > :07:46.in recruitment agency. As a legally licensed gang master, his business
:07:47. > :07:49.provided temporary migrant workers. Police have dropped their criminal
:07:50. > :07:53.investigation into him but he has closed his business because his
:07:54. > :08:04.licence has been taken away. Definitely, I am going to appeal to
:08:05. > :08:14.get the licence. The police decision will help me. I hope they will look
:08:15. > :08:22.at the case and realise that to suspend the licence was wrong. There
:08:23. > :08:26.was no one in danger. My understanding is the authority will
:08:27. > :08:30.only revoke a licence if someone has breached conditions. Are you saying
:08:31. > :08:37.you haven't reached any conditions? Always for me was the safety of the
:08:38. > :08:44.workers. They were paid properly, never less than the minimum. All of
:08:45. > :08:51.the transport and accommodation we supplied was only to help them come
:08:52. > :08:56.to work. Gang masters are strictly regulated. Even if they fail to meet
:08:57. > :09:01.one critical standards, their permit can be taken away. The police
:09:02. > :09:04.investigation has been dropped here but the licensing authority has
:09:05. > :09:06.confirmed the licence remained provoked, insisting there were
:09:07. > :09:12.breaches of standards. A jury has heard that two men
:09:13. > :09:16.accused of helping a serial killer from Peterborough were under her
:09:17. > :09:22.spell. Joanna Dennehy has already admitted killing three men and the
:09:23. > :09:25.attempted murder of two others. Today, defence lawyers for her
:09:26. > :09:28.alleged accomplices, Gary Stretch and Leslie Layton, said she
:09:29. > :09:30.instilled fear and subservience Both men deny preventing the lawful
:09:31. > :09:44.burial of her victims. Joanna Dennehy described herself a
:09:45. > :09:49.monster. Likened, today, to a Shakespearean villain. But who would
:09:50. > :09:56.dare pen such a ghastly tale of criminality, the court was asked.
:09:57. > :10:02.Gary Stretch was in it with her the jury was told. Luxuriating and
:10:03. > :10:06.glorifying in it. Buying cigarettes with Dennehy, laughing and joking,
:10:07. > :10:13.before looking for victims. This is what the court was told. Waiting
:10:14. > :10:16.outside in a car, Gary Stretch. Gary Stretch and Dennehy were soul mates
:10:17. > :10:23.in a hideous crime spree, the prosecution said. The jury was told
:10:24. > :10:30.that Joanna Dennehy instilled fear and subservience. His defence lawyer
:10:31. > :10:34.said he was Dennehy's nodding dog, who bent to her will. He was a big
:10:35. > :10:39.man, but fear has no respect for size. Dennehy's pleaded guilty
:10:40. > :10:43.murdering these men, dumping the bodies in ditches in Peterborough
:10:44. > :10:54.last year. One was found in a black sequin dress. Another, doused in
:10:55. > :10:57.bleach. Kevin Lee was her lover and landlord, who was murdered, the
:10:58. > :11:01.court heard, after he saw a body in a wheelie bin. Accused of helping to
:11:02. > :11:05.dump bodies here, and trying to cover their tracks is Leslie Layton.
:11:06. > :11:12.His defence lawyer told the jury, the only person who glorifies in
:11:13. > :11:17.death and trades on it is Joanna Dennehy. The court heard she bent
:11:18. > :11:25.her alleged accomplices to her will. They denied all of the charges.
:11:26. > :11:35.A protest was held outside a library in Luton this morning. Luton Borough
:11:36. > :11:38.Council say they can't afford to run Wigmore and Sundon Park libraries,
:11:39. > :11:40.and so closed them for good this evening. Campaigners say it
:11:41. > :11:43.discriminates against the disabled, elderly and the infirm. They can't
:11:44. > :11:45.travel to libraries elsewhere in the town. The mobile library service
:11:46. > :11:49.will also be disbanded. the figures because the figures show
:11:50. > :11:59.beyond any doubt there are cheaper alternatives out there.
:12:00. > :12:12.Coming up, six Nations rugby fever grips Northampton. And cleans for
:12:13. > :12:18.Mike leggings. `` a clean sweep for Mike. The Suffolk port of Lowestoft
:12:19. > :12:22.received a major economic boost today. Which will strengthen its
:12:23. > :12:25.reputation as a headquarters for the renewable energy industry. The
:12:26. > :12:27.owners of substantial new wind farm announced they would be locating
:12:28. > :12:31.their operations base there. The Galloper wind farm in the North Sea
:12:32. > :12:35.is still in the development stage. But if it is built, it will join the
:12:36. > :12:38.other vast wind farms off the Anglia coast generating power for the
:12:39. > :12:40.national grid. As our business correspondent Richard Bond reports,
:12:41. > :12:44.today's announcement could guarantee jobs in Lowestoft for 25 years.
:12:45. > :12:47.The port of Lowestoft has had its share of knocks over the years. As
:12:48. > :12:52.fishing has declined hopes of renewal have been pinned on offshore
:12:53. > :12:56.wind. And today, inside the building put up to house green energy
:12:57. > :12:59.companies, a boost for the town. The firm planning the region's sixth
:13:00. > :13:17.offshore wind farm said it would base its operations in the port.
:13:18. > :13:25.Lowestoft is the ideal location. For the construction period will be
:13:26. > :13:27.creating of jobs as well as up to 60 jobs for the 25`year is of
:13:28. > :13:30.operations. The ?1.3bn wind farm is called
:13:31. > :13:34.Galloper. It would be 18 miles off Suffolk, next to an existing wind
:13:35. > :13:37.farm, Greater Gabbard. When the wind farm revolution began ten years ago
:13:38. > :13:45.there were hopes factories making the turbines, and other major
:13:46. > :13:49.components, would be set up here. Instead, the region has specialised
:13:50. > :13:53.in operations and maintenance ` managing the wind farms day to day,
:13:54. > :13:56.keeping them in good nick. The operations base for the Scroby Sands
:13:57. > :13:59.wind farm is in Yarmouth. Gunfleet Sands is operated from
:14:00. > :14:04.Brightlingsea. Greater Gabbard from Lowestoft. Sheringham Shoal from
:14:05. > :14:08.Wells. The proposed Dudgeon wind farm will be run from Yarmouth and
:14:09. > :14:12.Galloper from Lowt. The Sheringham Shoal operations base near Wells
:14:13. > :14:16.opened last year. It houses technicians and engineers. The
:14:17. > :14:24.output of the field is monitored from a control room.
:14:25. > :14:29.It is a significant boost, there are full`time jobs, the people are
:14:30. > :14:34.highly skilled, well paid, this is a long`term opportunity on the premise
:14:35. > :14:37.the lifetime expectancy is 25 years. Operations and maintenance are
:14:38. > :14:40.great, but shouldn't this region be getting more out of offshore wind
:14:41. > :14:47.than that? The government strategy states that
:14:48. > :14:51.they tried to get 50% of content from the UK and over the lifetime it
:14:52. > :14:54.will be the case. It's not certain Galloper will be built. One of its
:14:55. > :14:57.investors is reviewing the project. But a final decision is expected
:14:58. > :15:09.later this year, potentially putting Lowestoft at the heart of a rising
:15:10. > :15:12.industry. The UK's biggest exhibition of Roman
:15:13. > :15:15.artefacts is going on display this weekend, at Norwich castle. The
:15:16. > :15:17.display consists of 160 pieces on loan from the British Museum.
:15:18. > :15:21.Highlights include sculpture from the villas of the Emperors Tiberius
:15:22. > :15:23.and Hadrian. There are coins from the famous Hoxne treasure items of
:15:24. > :15:34.jewellery and children's clothing from Roman Egypt. Let's cross to
:15:35. > :15:38.Norwich Castle. Yes, theres a big launch party going on here right
:15:39. > :15:41.now.,Its quite a coup for the Museum.One of just six around the
:15:42. > :15:45.country to play host to a pretty extraordinary collection. It's been
:15:46. > :15:50.described as a Roman blockbuster and we've had a sneak preview.
:15:51. > :15:54.It's been three years in the planning. And its taken almost a
:15:55. > :16:00.month of painstaking work to put together. The result an exhibition
:16:01. > :16:04.of the highest quality. Featuring 160 precious pieces from the British
:16:05. > :16:07.Museum. The focus not just the Romans in Britain but their
:16:08. > :16:12.influence across a sprawling empire one of the most powerful in
:16:13. > :16:15.history.. Dr John Davies, chief curator at Norfolk Museums service,
:16:16. > :16:21.is a specialist in Roman archaeology and coinag and tickled pink that all
:16:22. > :16:26.this is on show outside London. `` coinage. We see small objects,
:16:27. > :16:30.many brought in by metal detector users which show us about the
:16:31. > :16:36.everyday workings of Norfolk but we have the bits we don't see in this
:16:37. > :16:40.part of the Roman world, highly well preserved beautiful objects from
:16:41. > :16:46.some of the really great buildings. Some of it was used in cunning ways
:16:47. > :16:54.for propaganda purposes, iconic objects, the barbarian
:16:55. > :16:57.representation captive from the East representing a defeated province in
:16:58. > :17:02.the second century. We have a bust of the Emperor Also here marble
:17:03. > :17:06.burial chests from Turkey. A bearded portrait and the detail is
:17:07. > :17:13.absolutely stunning. We do not see that in Roman Britain. This is one
:17:14. > :17:20.of my favourite items. It is a child's sock. You would think it was
:17:21. > :17:25.mid `` made this week but it is 1700 years old. Look at the gap between
:17:26. > :17:31.the toes to allow a sandal to be worn. That is a leather sandal found
:17:32. > :17:36.in the same area. This strange concoction is a Willie hairnet. They
:17:37. > :17:40.were found in Roman Egypt. `` Willie. And from Egypt again painted
:17:41. > :17:46.on wooden panels so called mummy portraits. Faces looking at us from
:17:47. > :17:57.the first and second century AD proud to call themselves Roman
:17:58. > :18:01.citizens. I can tell you admission costs ?7 for adults, children aged
:18:02. > :18:13.four to 16.4 pounds 90. It opens to the public at 10am tomorrow and runs
:18:14. > :18:16.to April 27th. Amazing. The quality. The Romans did not play
:18:17. > :18:26.rugby but they would have enjoyed this contest between England and
:18:27. > :18:29.France. Yes, the six Nations opener tomorrow. The England squad
:18:30. > :18:41.dominated by players from Northampton. Let's go to Northampton
:18:42. > :18:48.now. Well, to this tavern in Northampton, a stones throw from
:18:49. > :18:56.Franklins Gardens. So much to look forward to. It is transfer deadline
:18:57. > :19:03.day. For Norwich fans, the future of one player was on the cards. Another
:19:04. > :19:05.Premier League club has come in with another fee. Stay tuned to the radio
:19:06. > :19:31.to find out what happens. Of course it is destabilising, he
:19:32. > :19:39.would have been playing tomorrow. But has destabilised the whole ship,
:19:40. > :19:44.no. I will find somebody else. We all know how much parents do for
:19:45. > :19:49.young sports stars, Luther's mother took it one step further writing an
:19:50. > :19:55.e`mail to his coach angry that her son was dropped from the Leeds
:19:56. > :20:00.Academy. Fast forward and Luther has made the step up. He will be playing
:20:01. > :20:04.for England against France tomorrow and the coach who she was critical
:20:05. > :20:23.of then is now the England head coach, Stuart Lancaster. It has been
:20:24. > :20:31.a roller`coaster few years. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH SOUND
:20:32. > :20:42.It is pubs like this when the action will be taking place. I have managed
:20:43. > :20:54.to bump into two legends. I won three. None. How difficult is it to
:20:55. > :20:59.beat the French? In Paris it is very difficult. If the French get a good
:21:00. > :21:03.start at the weekend it can be difficult to beat them. They have
:21:04. > :21:07.struggled recently but they have class players. You can't
:21:08. > :21:16.underestimate them. It is quite an atmosphere in Paris. How will Luther
:21:17. > :21:21.handle the occasion? It is difficult to say. Your first cap is special.
:21:22. > :21:28.It is a moment to be savoured. The atmosphere is unbelievable. I
:21:29. > :21:34.remember walking out and hearing the raw. He has to play as he has been
:21:35. > :21:39.playing all season. He is one of the most improved players so he has to
:21:40. > :21:46.do more of what he has been doing. Saints have been doing so well in
:21:47. > :21:51.the premiership. How easy is it to take the domestic club form into the
:21:52. > :22:00.international game? It is all about confidence. The guys are flying
:22:01. > :22:12.high. I think they will be fine. The conference will carry this evening.
:22:13. > :22:18.These are the moments you dream of. Yes, this is what it is all about.
:22:19. > :22:22.Lancaster has been bowled with a selection. These guys are ready for
:22:23. > :22:27.it. When you get the opportunity you have to take it. You are playing
:22:28. > :22:34.with talent around you. You don't have to worry about other people.
:22:35. > :22:42.The game is at 5pm on BBC One and tomorrow many games could be off in
:22:43. > :22:46.the football league. Stay tuned. Apologies because not hear what
:22:47. > :23:01.Luther was saying in the clip. We had stout `` sound issues. This time
:23:02. > :23:04.last year, the East was shivering in one of the coldest winters for
:23:05. > :23:07.years. It hasn't been so bad this year, but that hasn't dampened
:23:08. > :23:10.enthusiasm for real fires. Sales of wood burning stoves, for example,
:23:11. > :23:13.have soared to 175,000 a year. All that wood burning has increased
:23:14. > :23:16.demand for chimney sweeps. The job of sweeping chimneys hasn't changed
:23:17. > :23:18.since Victorian times ` until now. His name is Andy. He is a very handy
:23:19. > :23:35.sweep to know. Andy has been a sweep for 25 years
:23:36. > :23:38.and he loves the freedom of the job. You get around the country,
:23:39. > :23:46.different places all the time, you see some really nice looking houses
:23:47. > :23:53.and see how the other half live. It is never knowing what you will do.
:23:54. > :23:58.Andy is a traditional sweep using rods and brushes. It has been that
:23:59. > :24:03.way for a while, or there we do not send children up any more. This
:24:04. > :24:11.child was three when he worked for his dad. Now, there is something
:24:12. > :24:17.new. Rob a former sweep has invented a new power sweeping system.
:24:18. > :24:21.It goes into the flu more easily. You just put the drill into it and
:24:22. > :24:39.centrifugal force holds it. His company is a family affair. His
:24:40. > :24:47.wife and daughter work in the firm with his sons and his son`in`law and
:24:48. > :24:52.his 90 old mother`in`law opened a new training facility today which
:24:53. > :24:57.has lots of fireplaces. This is the way forward. There is no
:24:58. > :25:03.going back when people use this, it is revolutionary, it is chalk and
:25:04. > :25:07.cheese. The technology is changing but it is
:25:08. > :25:13.still a grubby job. And he doesn't mind, chimney sweeps are said to be
:25:14. > :25:22.lucky and he feels lucky to have done the job for so long.
:25:23. > :25:29.I have a three`year old, that is a job for her! The weather really
:25:30. > :25:32.changed today. Yes, wet weather and you will have heard the Met office
:25:33. > :25:39.have announced early statistics suggest it has been the wettest
:25:40. > :25:44.January on record. You might be wondering about this region, look at
:25:45. > :25:48.the map. You can see the white shading, that shows where we
:25:49. > :25:52.recorded average rainfall or for some parts just below but as we go
:25:53. > :26:02.further south and west, darker colours where we recorded 150% of
:26:03. > :26:08.the average rainfall. Getting on the twice and we still have tonight
:26:09. > :26:13.rainfall. Quite a lot of rain we have had and strong gusty wind
:26:14. > :26:17.coming in on this weather front and over the last few hours since the
:26:18. > :26:22.sun went down, some heavy downpours so expect a wet evening and through
:26:23. > :26:28.the first part of the night, further heavy downpours and strong gusty
:26:29. > :26:33.wind. The wind will ease later on when the rain clears eastwards. And
:26:34. > :26:36.it introduces some quite cool air, where the rain clears eastwards. And
:26:37. > :26:39.it introduces some quite cool air, whether rain clears and where we get
:26:40. > :26:44.clear spells, we may have temperatures of freezing. Icy
:26:45. > :26:47.patches around but that's in a sheltered spots. There will be a
:26:48. > :26:55.breeze. The weekend is much improved, quite windy, some showers
:26:56. > :27:00.around but also sunny spells and Sunday, a better day because the
:27:01. > :27:04.wind will be lighter. We start tomorrow dry and bright, quite
:27:05. > :27:10.windy, a fresh southerly breeze, blowing showers through and on the
:27:11. > :27:19.southerly breeze many arrests will look dry, Chile with highs of seven
:27:20. > :27:24.Celsius. `` chilly. Better on Sunday but the Monday this weather front on
:27:25. > :27:29.its way, turning skies cloudier through Monday and bringing rain. It
:27:30. > :27:36.will be an unsettled start to next week and the wind picking up again.
:27:37. > :27:38.A bit of everything. That is all from us. Have a good weekend.
:27:39. > :27:42.Goodbye.