18/04/2017 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Good evening, welcome to Look North. eight. And that is

So, it could be the fourth election in four years

Theresa May's snap General Election follows the 2014

Scottish Referendum, the 2015 General Election and last

The politicians certainly haven't lost THEIR appetite for elections,

First tonight, we're live in West Cumbria where

Theresa May tasted by-election victory in February.

It is not even eight weeks since Conservative Trudi Harrison came

here and stole this seat from Labour. Even Theresa May was here

during the campaign, and was backed just hours after the result was

announced. I'm absolutely delighted to be able

to be here in Millom, with the new Member of Parliament

for Copeland, This is an astounding victory for

the Conservative Party, but also for 3.5 months after the voters turned

out here, they are being asked to do it all again, so do they think now

is the right time for a general election?

I think the Prime Minister's got better things to think about, like

And I think a general election is obviously just a

Concentrate on getting us out of Europe.

It won't achieve anything, won't achieve

Well, in some ways, I'm probably quite happy to have a

At least it might give us some opposition afterwards.

I suppose, if they're going to do one, we will just

go down and vote, but I will be in a quandary of who I'm

I work for the NHS, and that says it all, doesn't it?

How much will they suffer further suffrage? All the parties say that

the fancy their chances. It is more than 50 years and three about a snap

election, and as many journals to come here are fond of pointing out,

we could be sailing into uncharted waters. Back to you.

Well, as Copeland proved, previously safe Labour seats

Could the Tories make further gains in Labour's North East heartlands?

Already, one Labour MP - Tom Blenkinsop - has refused

to stand again while Jeremy Corbyn remains as party leader.

Our correspondent, Mark Denten, is in Mr Blenkinsop's constituency

of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.

While Theresa May was making her dramatic announcement on the steps

of Downing Street today, and the very same time, the local MP in

these parts made his own dramatic announcement. Tom Blenkinsop, the

Labour MP here, saying that he could not stand again due to

irreconcilable differences between himself and the leadership of Jeremy

Corbyn. It is fair to say that in the last few months, Tom Blenkinsop

has made it clear that he is no great pile of Jeremy Corbyn and his

leadership. What this does is make this a tight contest, this

constituency. A battle between the Conservatives and Labour at the last

election, and the man himself, Tom Blenkinsop, not around today to

answer why he has made that announcement, but his constituency

neighbour, Andy McDonald, in Middlesbrough wished well, but said

it will be about wider issues. Policies subsist long

after individuals, in any event, so we are about the collective,

we say, these are our policies, and that is what we are putting

to the British people. And I think you will find that

Jeremy Corbyn is someone that they can trust.

He is consistent, decent, honest, and principled, and

I think that will come through very loudly and clearly over the coming

weeks. If it does, it will be down to the

constituents and the voters. I have been catching up with some of tomboy

consult's constituents in Saltburn 's afternoon. -- some of Tom

Blenkinsop's constituents. I can understand why he will do

that, and I think more about the same, and I think that is where the

problems will be. I think it might swing to the Conservatives, then

possibly. Have made up your mind yet? No, not yet. You are a floating

vote. Yes. A bit of cross-party support across the divide for Tom

Blenkinsop. The MP for Stockton, who is standing again, said that they

have often been divided, but he wishes him well for the future.

Both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have seats in South-East England,

but Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is based

And when I spoke to him earlier, the Cumbrian MP was relishing

the opportunity to hit the election trail in a region where, he says,

It is a fantastic opportunity for the British people to change the

direction of our country, and that particularly applies

to those others in the north-east and Cumbria, who

have that chance now, to say that whatever we think

about the result of the referendum, a hard Brexit

that takes us out of the single market is very wrong for our

Only the Liberal Democrats are saying that and will oppose that.

More broadly, Britain needs a strong and decent opposition.

It seems that Labour under Jeremy Corbyn has decided that, not only

does it not want to be an alternative Government, seriously,

they also do not want to be a serious opposition.

Britain desperately needs a strong and serious, decent

This is the moment for the Liberal Democrats to step up

into that position and present the British

And yet our region voted overwhelmingly for Brexit, so

surely, your message will fall on deaf ears?

If you've seen the local council by-elections over the last

weeks and months, you've seen gains for the Liberal Democrats in places

like Sunderland and in the north of Carlisle, so what is clearly

happening is that the Liberal Democrats are stepping into that

place where a decent, strong opposition should be,

and that will mean people voting for us who voted for Leave

last June, as well as the many people who voted Remain as well.

Labour has had a stronghold on the region for a lot of yours, though.

Labour has had a stronghold on the region for a lot of years, though.

Look, the region borders Scotland, where you could say the same

In fact, Labour's strength in Scotland

was even greater than in the North of England.

The reality is if you take your voters for granted, and assume

they will vote for you anyway, and you become the least effective,

least useful opposition in living memory, then

you have forfeited the

To make sense of the early pre-election skirmishes, I am joined

now by Richard Moss. What are your thoughts? In 2015, I spent most of

my time talking about labour claim to gain seats from the

Conservatives. Results like Copland means that this time we are talking

about the opposite. Others can be brought into play, Workington has a

majority of 4500, and certainly Darlington, just over 3000 majority

for the Labour MP there. This is a random straw poll, but when we spoke

to voters there today, there was little confidence in the Labour

chances there. I think we need something, because to be honest, we

are divided, ardently? We need something that we can focus on and

unite. I think Theresa May will win the election, I will be voting for

her. She has no mandate, I think going back to the polls will make is

the right thing to do. The Conservatives will win, easy. I

would still put them back in. Labour is unelectable with Jeremy Corbyn in

charge. Completely unelectable, and that was nobody else out there. One

of the places where labour is under threat as Hartlepool, where Ukip has

pulled well in the past. I can see why she has called it, the Labour

Party is struggling. Here in the Hartlepool, it is about Labour are

Ukip, not the Conservatives, this is one of big target seats, and we will

be configured in a big way. There is only one poll that counts, on June

the 8th, and parties must know find candidates for the election. -- must

now find candidates. Thank you, Richard.

Other news now, and an inquest has heard how a four-year-old girl

who was using her mobile phone at the time.

Ava Henderson was playing in a compound off Amos Ayre Place

The girl was trying to stop the family's bulldog from running

into the path of her mother's pick-up truck, when she was hit

The coroner recorded a verdict of "accidental death".

Northumbria Police say 37 victims have now come forward as part

of an investigation into historical child sex abuse at

"Operation Tide" was launched in December after several

ex-footballers came forward to say they were abused by former

Ormond was jailed in 2001 for twelve cases of indecent assault,

but police say ten possible suspects have now been identified

involving 11 different clubs in a range of sports.

It's one of the region's most popular tourist destinations,

but people living and working on Holy Island, off

the Northumberland coast, say county council plans to sell

land used for car parking will seriously damage businesses

The council is trying to make savings of ?2 million.

It says any development will be sympathetic

to the island's heritage. Megan Paterson reports.

Tens of thousands of visitors come here every year.

Pilgrims or sightseers, they all need somewhere to

park, and the trick is to get your early.

There's people looking for room, eyeing up our space as we're

I suppose with the tides, people come at the optimum time,

So it does all funnel people in together.

Away from the main car park, this is where coaches

Just under half of this site has been put

up for sale by Northumberland County Council.

At some times in the year, yes, it isn't quite so full, but at

other times of the year it is absolutely stowed out.

And that loss of access for visitors to this part

In a statement, Northumberland County Council told us

side of the site, and the toilet block,

any developer buying land on this side and the overspill behind it,

will be governed by strict conservation rules, but still people

The biggest worry is the identity of the village

If they allow development on that land, how can

they stop development on the next bit of land?

He fears creeping development is changing the home he loves.

I don't think anything should be put there,

but if they are going to build something, let it be social housing.

Let's keep the community going, rather than more holiday homes.

Northumberland County Council says it all marketing exercise will be

Northumberland County Council says a full marketing exercise will be

The islanders hope that will protect the area's beauty,

If you were in the Cubs or the Scouts, you might remember

The one held in Newcastle is the oldest in the world,

and it's celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Jonathan Swingler went along to rehearsals before the curtain

A dress rehearsal of this year's Gang Show at the people's Theatre in

Newcastle. Since the first gang show, over a third of a million

people in our region will have seen one of the productions. It is

special looking back over the years, and we have got a good modern gang

show. By the end of it, they have all got new friends and experiences

that can help them go on to new things in their lives. We do lots of

different things in the Gang Show. I am in nine different numbers, so I

wear lots of different costumes and be different things. We are all

confident on the stage, and it is fun. I have not done this before, it

is a bit nervous for me. One participant from the 1960s as the

producer, and he remembers Brian Johnson from AC/DC taking part. We

did a number and we had the bows of a ship, I was one of the Sea Cadets.

We have no girls in the short then am so we had to have a girl to

present the flowers. Brian Johnson was that girl. Those taking part in

a Gang Show for the first time are presented with a new red neckerchief

to replace their green one. You can expect this sure to be around for a

few years yet. And the gang are here -

me and Steve for Team Talk! And it does seem, Steve,

that a season which promised so much is in danger of fizzling out

with the winning post in sight? Promotion worries for Newcastle

and Carlisle, relegation worries for Sunderland,

Middlesbrough and Hartlepool - Let's look first

at last night's action - another spirited effort

from Boro, but no points. Difficult for the goalkeeper, you

cannot gamble when there aren't that many bodies, and that somebody has

the ability to do that, FairPlay. Middlesbrough have struggled for

goals all season, and looked like this was going to spur them on. Five

games now, and if they are going to go down, at least they are having a

go. Against Arsenal, anything they got would be a bonus. Here, he sees

the space, and wins the game for Arsenal. This is what happens when

you're down at bottom. When you're down there, you throw bodies

forward, and even the rebound does not in. Frustrating times. The

Middlesbrough manager has not given up yet.

It was a terrific atmosphere, and when the Riverside is rocking like

that, it's incredible, and the fans deserve a lot of praise,

because they were right behind the team, and

We have just got to keep the season alive.

I keep saying, we just need a win, and I am confident

Sunderland did at least score a goal after applying for more than 11.5

hours without one, but it did not stop manager David Moyes humming

under fire from a section of the fans. Do you think they are right to

hold onto a manager? We have changed a lot in the last two years. That

does not work either, has? Is he going to get the motor relegation

trouble? I don't think so. At least, after losing an early goal, like

Boro, the still went for it. They were creative, and the fans reacted

to the team. Leak at Imola is trying to get everyone to pull together

there. -- Lee Cattermoler tried to get everyone together. Got an

equaliser through Borini. His performances have not wanted doing

this in front of your manager, for me. He had to be dragged away by his

team-mates. Here is what he had to say.

It is harder than the previous time, I think.

We are not being at our level, we are not playing as a

united group, as in previous seasons.

That is what has probably been the problem, but positive

results like today and performances can

bring that strength to the

group, because in our situation, we can only get out together, not

Interesting comments. It could be over by next week. Given Hull City's

form, it is green to look increasingly bleak definitely, if

they lose this weekend. No guarantee we'll have anyone

in the Premier League next season. Newcastle should still make it,

but the Easter weekend has left the Magpies looking anxiously

over their shoulders. If only they could have held

on against Leeds on Good Friday! A good performance, but they let it

slip. Friday night was much better, they had enough opportunities to win

several games, but if you do not put them away... Lead to a plural, but

if you do not take the opportunities, you leave yourself

open to this. Too much space they are, shot themselves in the foot

there. But the pressure on when they went to Ipswich yesterday. Again,

they are losing games that they were not losing in recent weeks. They are

going to get there, just typical Newcastle, making it harder than

they should. One thing over the line. Another when, two more wins?

Huddersfield have a difficult game against Huddersfield this weekend.

Lets hope for Rafael Benitez's hope that it is over sooner rather than

later. Not a great weekend

for our League Two clubs, each other on Good Friday before

stumbling again yesterday. It's certainly looking grim

for Hartlepool, Steve - just a point now above

the relegation zone after losing They took the lead as well. A

massive game at home to Barnet this Saturday. Leyton Orient thrown the

kids, and it really worked for them. What on earth was Liam Donnelly

doing Yarde is good to get a long ban for that, you cannot do that. I

think the FA will chuck the book at him this time. Could have been a

straight red. Could have been a big win for Carlisle. Carlisle got a

point. Draws are not good, and Carlisle still have new ports to

play, which will have a big effect on both of their futures. We will

keep our fingers crossed. I'm hoping we might have

better news next week! It will be another chilly nights

tonight, not as cold as last night. We had this lovely picture earlier

today, a sun he Lo, formed from the sun refracting through high-level

cloud. Thank you to Keith. Over the next couple of days, it will be

cloudy at times, some drizzle and some chilly mornings as well.

Through the night tonight, some sunshine to end the day. That will

turn into clear skies through the first part of the night, but cloud

will spill down from the north, maybe the odd spot of light rain or

drizzle. Most of us will have a dry night, not quite as cold, these are

the temperatures, down to five or six in tones. A chilly start to

Wednesday morning, we have a weather front sinking southwards, bringing

some spots of rain through the morning, but by the afternoon,

something a little bit drier. It will stay cloudy, though. This is

the picture across Cumbria through the afternoon. Temperatures up to 11

degrees. Some sunshine will come through in two parts of

Northumberland, just a chance of one or two showers on that sea breeze

along the course, temperatures around 10 degrees. As we had through

Wednesday night, it will be a fairly cloudy night again, some patches of

mist and fog across Cumbria, some drizzle here to. It will be a bit

milder going into Thursday, temperatures dropping around 28

Celsius. Thursday morning starts off cloudy, patches of mist and fog

across the Cumbrian fells, and some spots of rain. There will be some

brighter spells, but the emphasis is on a fairly cloudy day on Thursday,

temperatures a bit higher, up to 14 or possibly 15 Celsius. A bit of a

breeze picking up from the west. As we had towards the weekend, we keep

that cloud through much of the weekend, Friday, Saturday and indeed

Sunday. Temperatures on Friday in the low to mid teens, a bit cooler

on Saturday. This is how Cumbria looks across the next few days,

cloudy tomorrow, staying around 13 degrees. Similar for the north-east,

but some chilly nights at the end of the week.

That is it from me. We will have the latest news at 10:30pm. And I will

be back tomorrow at 6am. Who will be the first

Mayor of the Tees Valley? Join me, Richard Moss,

as people from across Teesside quiz the candidates

who want to be Mayor.