21/12/2016 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Wednesday's Look North.

Tonight: The Labour MP for Copeland, Jamie Reed, is resigning

from Parliament to take a job at Sellafield.

The number of people who say they were abused at a County Durham

Could Brexit hit farmers' grazing rights in parts

And how this Springer Spaniel has become a worldwide

In sport, Newcastle moves a step closer to hosting a major

And after four years in exile, Darlington Football Club is all set

First tonight: The Labour MP for Copeland and leading

critic of Jeremy Corbyn, Jamie Reed, is resigning

But Mr Reed says he's leaving to take a job at Sellafield,

and not because of any disillusionment with

It does, though, trigger a tricky by-election for his party.

Jamie Reed's majority in Copeland was just 2,564.

Here's our Political Editor Richard Moss.

It's not the Christmas present Labour would have wanted.

Jamie Reed's resignation will lead to a bruising

The Copeland MP is quitting Parliament to take up a job

at Sellafield as the nuclear site's head of Development

Reed has been a big supporter of the nuclear industry

and was a press officer at Sellafield before becoming

He was soon seen as a man with the potential to

The US Embassy invited him to observe the 2008 Presidential

election as they saw him as a future UK political leader,

As well as his backing for nuclear power, health has been an important

He served as a Shadow Health Minister, and has been

at the forefront of the campaign to protect services

at the West Cumberland Hospital in his constituency.

But he's had his own health problems, spending time in that

very hospital in 2010 after being diagnosed with diabetes.

And it's not the first time a Jamie Reed resignation has caused

He quit as a Shadow Minister just seconds into Mr Corbyn's

Since then he's been a fierce critic of a man he sees as leading Labour

Jeremy is not suited to lead Labour, not suited to be a potential,

Jeremy Corbyn is making life difficult for people who need

But he insists today's resignation isn't about the leadership

or direction of the party - simply about serving the community

He says it's the most difficult decision he's ever made.

It will now be down to someone else to defend a Labour majority

in Copeland over the Conservatives of just over 2,500.

Jamie Reed and Jeremy Corbyn didn't see eye to eye

on the future of their party, but the Labour leader has

Yes. A lot of Jeremy Corbyn supporters, do not like Jamie Reed

but Jeremy Corbyn said that he was powerful for his constituency, and

helping infrastructure get to Cumbria. And people that we spoke to

today also recognise the work he has done.

He's actually personally helped me out in the past.

The only one who fights for us in Parliament.

there is a question a lot of people are going to be asking. We have not

been able to talk to Jamie Reed, but he has also got four children, and

does not like travelling to Westminster. Sharp operator. And he

knows that this is going to be seen as a taste for Jeremy Corbyn. It is

a rare opportunity for the Conservatives to take a Labour seat

since 1982. And a lot of Cumbria Lib Dems may try to mop up the Remain

vote. Ed Balls has been mentioned. More used to a fox trot. But tactics

are to choose someone local. The future of the hospital could be key.

But the locals better brace themselves, because that means

campaigns, politics, and media types like us.

A man who claims he was abused at a children's home has

been awarded thousands of pounds in compensation.

Hundreds of men are suing the Catholic Church over historical

abuse at the St Williams approved school in East Yorkshire, which was

Three other men today lost their case for compensation

at the High Court in Leeds and another will be

For these men, today's High Court judgement wasn't

It was the proof they needed that after over 30 years,

I still have to live with nightmares of this.

It's the worst feeling you can have, to be called a liar,

As boys they were delinquents who were sent to the Catholic run

St Williams approved school in East Yorkshire.

He was one of the boys the former principal,

He's been jailed three times now for physically and sexually

The former chaplin was jailed in January

The home was run by the Diocese of Middlesbrough and the Delacal Order.

It is these two Catholic organisations that the former

249 men are carrying out this litigation.

But it started with just five test cases.

Judgements handed down at the High Court in Leeds

The judge found only in favour of one claimant.

It's become a war of attrition, this case.

I'm confident the evidence I've heard, men crying

in my office about their cases, means we will succeed.

The last judgement in this case will be handed down in the new year.

1,400 people have now come forward to say

they were abused at the former Medomsley Detention

Durham Police's Operation Seabrook has been running for two and a half

years and it's spoken to around 20 suspects.

The investigation unit is looking at allegations of abuse

Our Correspondent Mark Denten is outside the former

Than Meadomsley centre closed 20 years ago, but before that it was a

crucial part of the criminal justice system. Dealing with what was known

as juvenile delinquents. Back at 1985, we were told that the

programme was simple. Physical exercise, team building, and hard

labour. What that was a front for some of the staff to abuse inmates.

And that has been reading to one of the biggest investigations of its

time. That was what Medomsley

Detention Centre promised. Boys sent here for minor offences

would be given three months, But many who walked in here have

suffered a much longer punishment. One that's stayed

with them for life. It's not the sort of

thing you talk about. I have a daughter I

want to cuddle, kiss. This is one of the staff

who abused Peter. Neville Husband was convicted

and he's now died. But Durham Police have since been

contacted by 1,400 people who say For two and a half years officers

have been painstakingly 20 suspects have been questioned,

but the sheer scale of this task Straight away, dealing

with 1,400 people. Pretty straightforward getting

an account, then it's We've been doing this

for two and a half years. But 30 years ago, expectations

of victims are I want justice, soon. Two and a half years

later, no conclusion. 30 years on, what went on behind

the security gates here is steadily A teenager's appeared in court

charged with the murder of a man The body of 29-year-old Mark Shaw

was found in an upstairs Kieran Adey, who's 18

and from Queen Street in Grange Villa, appeared

at Peterlee Magistrates' Court Farmers in Cumbria have been able

to graze their animals on common But now some are worried

about their rights after we leave They want to form a Commons Council,

which they believe would give them a voice if there any changes

in the law following Brexit. Judy Hobson has been speaking

to one farmer in Orton. Like many farmers in Cumbria,

Mark's sheep and cattle It's an ancient right,

dating back to medieval times. Mark believes the rights

of commoners could be threatened We need a voice to support our side

of the story so it stays how it is, moves forwards, so it's good

for tourism and the environment. Still needs to be viable

for us farmers to farm. Common land can be owned

by individuals or an organisation. 82% of common land is

within national parks A third of all common land

in the UK is in Cumbria. 1,000 farmers in Cumbria use it

to graze their animals. Commoners are different

to other farmers. The EU pays them to

look after the land - to keep it viable for farming,

tourism and the environment. Many farmers see Brexit as a game

changer for their industry. They know the British Government

will have to develop its own Cumbrian farmers want

to form a Commons Council. It would mean decisions it made

would be legally binding and offer We don't want diseases from one

flock caught by another. Better doing that in a council

rather than everyone working solo. A third of land in the Lake District

is common land and commoners here say they want to continue

farming within this Unsurprisingly, Christmas

is the busiest time of year for small businesses,

but this year more than ever it's Concerns about the future

are affecting confidence and a new survey shows 15% of those

businesses won't capitalise Danni Hewson reports

from North Yorkshire. It's an Aladdin's cave

but it's not a shop - Based in Harrogate,

the Great British Exchange works as a go-between,

connecting independent producers to major retailers,

giving them access to a market that In the absence of these guys

having established brands, because they might be

new businesses, it's all about the prominence,

the background, it's Where the products were developed,

how they were developed, and ultimately send that message

to the retailers so they can This year more than ever,

Christmas sales matter. A fifth of all profits is usually

generated over the festive season, but a survey carried out

by independent finance provider LDF suggests the current political

situation will have an impact. A lack of confidence

at the moment with Brexit. People are starting

to wonder about next year - But with most of these companies

this is when they make Get this wrong, the rest of next

year they're playing catch up. While shoppers can get away

with making last minute purchases, suppliers need to think ahead

if they're going to make the most We're already planning

next Christmas. We already booked shows,

events, Christmas 2017. The founders of the Harrogate

Candle Company aren't Their involvement with

the Great British Exchange has seen them adopted by a big

British department store. Business is booming but three years

ago it was a different story. Pulled round the trolley,

knocked doors, horribly Ultimately it will be consumers

who write the end of this Will it be full of festive cheer or

will the January blues come early? The County Durham poet and creative

writing teacher Gillian Allnutt will be honoured by the Queen next

year after winning Born in the London in 1949,

she spent much of her childhood in Newcastle before studying

at Cambridge University. She's lived in County Durham

since the 1980s where she writes You're watching

Wednesday's Look North. Still to come: Tonight's sports

news with Jeff Brown. Also, how this little dog's

adventures on the Lake District Fells have captured the imagination

of people around the world! And these donkeys are more little to

see a wet and windy Christmas than a white one!

Now, as we approach the festive period, we thought it would be nice

to highlight some of those who think of others rather than themselves.

Tonight we meet the women who've got together to collect toiletries

and other items which will be put into handbags and given to women

The majority of women would take all of these things for granted.

But for those who are homeless, vulnerable, or simply

struggling to make ends meet, sanitary and personal hygeine

prodicts can be at the end of a very long list of things they need

So Gill has set up a project which this Christmas will give

handbags packed with these goods to charities, who will then pass

them onto women to help them get through the next month with dignity.

She was inspire by a Facebook post, depicting a homeless

I thought it was upsetting. I did more research. And I find out that

there was a need to do this. Sanitary products are classed as

luxury in the UK. Taxed at 5%. I think it is essential to try to

help. With an initial goal of just over

1,000 bags to give out, Gill says it's more likely

to be 3,000. But I am also a Joanne's house. One

of 40 people collecting these vital items. These are some of the

donations that we have received. Toothpaste, soap, foot... And one of

the amazing things that has been done, women coming together. It is

not just about helping the homeless? It has created a huge network of

women, spreading awareness. And what has this meant to you? I cannot put

that into words. It has been heart-warming. Fit to burst! I

cannot put it into words. I just feel overwhelmed by the number of

bags that have come in. The generosity of people, but also sad

it is needed. I have started this, people have said it is such a

wonderful job that I am doing, but why should we have to do this?

When Kerry Irving began taking pictures of his dog Max

and sharing them online, little did he realise that

within months his dog would become so popular he'd be known

Max's adventures on the Lake District Fells have drawn fans

to the area from as far afield as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Max is a lucky boy - a nine-year-old springer living

with Keswick locksmith Kerry and enjoying himself in some

With me from 5am to the end of the day.

Gets recognised in the towns from locals to tourists, every day.

Every day Kerry chronicles Max's adventures: Taking and posting

pictures on his very own Facebook page.

Over the course of the last eight months or so, Max has been seen

on some of the area's tallest peaks and frolicking on the most

It's this that has made him a social media star.

We've had people from the USA, Taiwan, Japan, the scout group

from Hong Kong arrive to have a photo shoot.

People from all over the world send messages daily

Almost 13,000 people are following Max online.

But Kerry doesn't just want Max to chase peoples' affections -

he's hoping his profile can really improve access to his

We've got involved with a charity called Freedom Wizard who have taken

They have altered wheelchairs for disabled people, opening up

We've done this successfully with a lady from Sheffield.

She came up to Latrigg after never being there for 30 years.

So much fun and I'd like to do more of that.

If you want to look Max up, go online and search for Max Out

Little star! Does the dog have lighting!? Looks better than us! Do

not say that! It'll be a very special

Christmas for fans of one Darlington will make

their long-awaited return to the town on Boxing Day,

four years after the The new club has been steadily

climbing the leagues while in exile in Bishop Auckland,

and their new ?1 million They have had a new stadium before,

it had 27,000 seats, and the chairman was famously proud of the

facilities. It is state of the art. But it has gone badly wrong. The new

ground is more modest. It is a programme and for myself and

everybody involved. Fan owned. Everybody played a part. It feels as

though Santa Claus has, Lally, the present for Darlington. It has a

capacity of 3300. It is going to share it with the Darlington rugby

club. Four year exile since the original Darlington went bust. The

architecture has been easy. We have got the clubhouse, just designing

the stands, the fencing, turnstiles, and everything to comply with the

Football Association. What is this going to mean to the table? It is

vital. Vital they come back to Darlington and fans can get here.

Nod to the past as well. Steelwork comes from the old ground. It is

expected when the team comes out against Halifax on Boxing Day, going

to be greeted by a capacity crowd. Just two promotions away from the

Football League. But having the team back at Darlington is a signal of it

instead -- step in the rebirth. Switching to Rugby Union,

but staying with sports grounds, and Newcastle United have moved

a step closer to bringing the European club game's showpiece

weekend to St James's Park The club confirmed today it's

on the shortlist of candidate cities to host the 2018

European Rugby Champions Cup final, the Challenge Cup final

and the Challenge Cup Newcastle's application went in last

week and has now passed through to the candidate stage,

although tournament organisers aren't making public the number

or identity of rival bids. They'll all now receive a site

visit, before a final From Rugby Union to Rugby League,

and the draw's been made for the first round of the 2017

League One Cup, which takes The competition kicks off

with a West Cumbrian derby: York City Knights are at home

to North Wales Crusaders, while Newcastle Thunder

travel to Hunslet. Thank you. Shall we mention this

storm...? Friday! We have some of the festive weather

pictures. And it would not be Christmas without some donkeys!

These Northumberland donkeys! Tomorrow, it is going to be sunny

spells and scattered showers. And things becoming even more unsettled,

stormy weather. Wet. Very windy. But mild, especially Christmas Day. This

evening, scattered showers, becoming more widespread over the early hours

of the morning. And at lower levels, going to be fuelling cold. One, two,

too much wind to allow frost. The itself, it is a mixture of sunny

spells and scattered showers. Wintry over higher ground. Becoming fewer

and farther between, but it is never going to feel warm. Seven, eight at

best. Westerly wind. An eye on the wind... And we can see the storm,

coming from the Atlantic and the wet weather is just going to be brief.

Quieter spell before another Atlantic low. Wet and windy for

Christmas Day. Some Met Office warnings. Friday, heavy rain passing

through. Should clear by the end. Gusty winds. And those continue,

westerly overnight. Christmas Eve is going to be quieter, largely dry.

Rain for many from the west. Christmas Day itself, mild. I

thought my children were going to bring the roof down, so hyper!

Always inside! Thank you. Bye bye. The roads we walk have demons

beneath them... ..and yours have been waiting

for a very long time. What is this? We can't do this.

Is this supposed to be a game? I thought this was some

kind of... What? ..trick. Of course it's not a trick.

It's a plan. What's the very worst thing

you can do...