18/11/2013 Look North (Yorkshire)

Welcome to Monday's Look North. On the programme tonight. Drugs, the

Co`op Bank and a former Bradford councillor. Methodist Minister Paul

Flowers facing claims he bought and used illegal drugs is suspended from

the Labour Party. We'll also hear from a friend who says she stands by

him. Also tonight. Has Yorkshire's jobs

market turned a corner? 200 new jobs in York and thousands more promised,

but the latest figures show unemployment still on the rise And

we talk to one of Sheffield's coolest musical exports, the Arctic

Monkeys, ahead of tonight's hometown gig.

And in sport, he's already a champion, but he needs cash to keep

him racing. We go track`side with Doncaster teenager Alex Gill.

A cold night to come with a widespread frost. The very latest

coming up shortly. But first tonight to the

investigation into former Bradford Labour councillor and Methodist

Minister Paul Flowers, over claims he bought and used illegal drugs.

There are now calls for a probe into his appointment as chairman of the

Co`op Bank. A national newspaper posted a video online apparently

showing Mr Flowers handing over ?300 to buy drugs. This afternoon he was

suspended by the Labour party. Our crime correspondent John Cundy

reports. Next tonight, has Yorkshire's jobs market turned a

corner? Not at home in Bradford today as

look North sought the whereabouts of Paul Flowers. He is believed to be

staying with friends somewhere outside Yorkshire. Keeping a low

profile after revelations in newspapers of his alleged buying of

drugs in the. That just days after Mr Flowers was questioned by the

Treasury select committee over his three`year chairmanship of the

co`operative bank. He left in May with Anna 1.5 pounds found `` gap in

its finances. In 2001 he became a Labour councillor in Bradford. In

2010 he became chair of the co`operative bank. He stood down the

following year as a counsellor. In June of this year he resigned from

the co`operative. There have in question as to whether he should

ever have been a councillor and chair of the Co`op bank at the same

time. You would have had to get permission to serve and to take on

the role within the Co`op bank. I think the people who granted him

permission gave him bad advice. This afternoon Paul Flowers was suspended

from the Labour Party. He was involved in the cup bank and that is

no longer the case. The police are looking at the issue. But Paul

Flowers has received some support in Bradford. He is very much loved and

add times as a counsellor we could have not got through situations

without him. In Leeds any investigations are at a very early

stage. I understand there will be no definite developments for several

days. Tonight Paul Flowers remains suspended by his church as well as

by the Labour Party. Next, has the jobs market in

Yorkshire turned a corner? In York, 200 posts have been advertised at

the new John Lewis store today. Meanwhile, ?10 million is to be

spent on derelict land behind York Railway station, in a development

which the council says will create thousands of jobs. But it follows a

rise in unemployment in the region last month. Here's Dave Edwards.

On the outskirts of York, construction is well under way. In

the spring one of the biggest names in British retail John Lewis, will

move in. 100 posts have already been filled and 200 more were advertised

this morning. The interest in the job when we advertised the 100 rolls

was fantastic. We had 500 people from the local area wanting to join

John Lewis and we hope we will have a similar number four the job

advertised today. Meanwhile in the centre of York major announcement.

This land has been derelict for years. Part of it used to be the

famous carriage works. A major employer back in its day. Plans to

develop ear and build thousands of homes and offices have been put on

hold at the height of the recession. But today the council said it would

spend ?10 million on a new bridge over the railway lines for easier

access to the site. That is expected to create thousands of jobs. We're

putting in ?10 million towards this bridge to get access to the site. So

building can now start. And those jobs will be much needed here in

Yorkshire where last week's official figures showed unemployment rose by

4000. There are now 248 thousand people in the region without a job.

It is hoped the announcements today will help that figure start to fall.

Later on Look North. We're talking driving and distractions.

A massive 42,000 drivers in Yorkshire have points on their

licence for being distracted at the wheel. I find out what happened in a

car simulator when you take your eyes off the road.

Former Rotherham MP Denis MacShane has admitted to making false expense

claims of nearly ?13,000. MacShane, who's also the former Europe

Minister, pleaded guilty to one charge of false accounting at the

Old Bailey in London. Our political reporter James Vincent joins us now

from Sheffield. James, what exactly did he do? Well Denis Macshane is

the hype profile former MP caught up in the expenses scandal. He was

rather MP. And he was Europe Minister for three years under Tony

Blair. It is his work in Europe that got him into trouble. 19 fake

invoices submitted asking for money for research and translation. They

were from a company controlled by Denis Macshane. The signatures of

the managers on those receipts were not genuine. A total of ?13,000 was

claimed. Denis Macshane 20 did not personally profit from any of that

but today he pleaded guilty to the one charge of false accounting. What

is the timeline from here? Well he will not be speaking to the media

about his plea this morning but he has been quite high profile in the

last four years. In the Guardian he broke in 2009 that the expenses

scandal would be seen as a wonderful moment of British fiddling. I guess

today his moment finally came and he will be back in court on the 19th of

December when he and his former constituents will find out his

sentence. The Independent Police Complaints

Commission is considering launching a formal investigation into the role

the Metropolitan Police Commissioner played on the day of the

Hillsborough disaster. Sir Bernard Hogan`Howe was then working for

South Yorkshire Police and on duty at Sheffield Boys' Club where

relatives and friends of those missing were waiting for news. It's

thought the investigation relates to the family of a 14`year`old boy

being given false hope when his name was on a list of survivors read out

by a police officer. The boy had in fact died.

A West Yorkshire town has today become the first place in the north

of England where retailers have agreed to stop selling

super`strength alcohol. Shop owners in Normanton near Wakefield have

signed up to the Reducing the Strength campaign, to try to combat

anti`social behaviour. Lager, beers and ciders that contain more than

6.5% alcohol will no longer be sold. If it's successful, the scheme could

be extended to other areas. Drivers who want to park in Leeds

city centre on evenings and Sundays will have to pay from today. A two

pound flat rate for evenings has been brought in. On Sundays it'll

cost four pounds for the day, or a pound for up to four hours. The

council says it knows the changes won't be popular, but it needs to

keep traffic moving and encourage people to make the most of public

transport. Schoolchildren in Sheffield have

taken part in a protest over possible library closures. Pupils at

Lydgit Junior School campaigned outside Broomhill library this

morning. It's one of the libraries which is threatened with closure, as

Sheffield City Council aims to save ?1.6 million. The council has urged

people to take part in the ongoing consultation into the future of

libraries. Those at the school say they're at risk of losing a valuable

resource. It is something that we use and

love. It may discourage some of us from reading because it is difficult

to get books. We constantly talk about the value of reading for

children and the libraries in terms of resources. To have it here is

crucial and once it has gone it is something we probably will boost for

ever. `` lose for ever. Road safety charity Brake have today

called for drivers to resist the temptation to use their phones while

driving. The charity, based in Huddersfield, has found that 42,000

people in Yorkshire have got points on their licences for using their

mobiles at the wheel or being otherwise distracted, for example

eating, drinking or tuning the radio. By far the greatest number of

offenders in our region are in Sheffield, where 10,500 drivers have

been given points after getting caught not giving their full

attention to the road. In second place is Leeds with more than 6,500

drivers being penalised for distracted driving. And Bradford

isn't far behind with just over 6,000. Ian White has the story.

Fire crews work to free a motorist trapped inside a car after a

collision. Fortunately it is just a training exercise but is something

that they do for real far too often. Motorists distracted but we will as

a major cause of crashes and mobile phones are often to blame. Using the

mobile phone distracts you for just a few minutes. The modern car will

have gone a very long way in that time. It ends in devastation for the

family and the individual concerned. 42,000 motorists in Yorkshire alone

have points on their licences for being distracted at the wheel. Now

the charity Brake is calling for a total ban on mobile phones while

driving. We would prefer people to turn their mobile phone off. To see

how dangerous using a mobile phone at the wheel is I would to the car

simulator at Leeds University to see how my driving changed. You are

being careful to look at the road every so often. So you're switching

your glands from the phone back to the road. `` your glands. That is

being safety conscious, more so than someone might do in real life. But

you are going quite fast. Now you're into lanes. There is no doubt

driving like could lead to serious collision. So would drivers in the

lock their mobile phone in their blood? You're having a laugh.

Really? Locked in the boot of the card? No. I think it is a good idea

because I put my bag on the back seat with my phone in it and then I

cannot reach it. You need it in case of emergency. But I do not answer

when driving. Many drivers still need to be convinced. But using your

phone while driving is illegal and could end in tragedy.

Before seven o'clock, we'll have your weekend sport. And he's left

his Funky Moped in the Midlands and he's headed North! Comedian Jasper

Carrott will be in our studio ahead of a brand new tour.

And we get a rare chat with the Arctic Monkeys ahead of their

hometown gig in Sheffield tonight. Now for the sport, here's Tanya.

There is a suggestion that the former hero down at Elland Road

could be involved? Well the United have described it as a derisory

offer. Lucas might be was meant to be heading some kind of consortium

to buy them. He is a legend at Elland Road. We have heard nothing

from Lucas. The club said he did not mention anything when he was over a

couple of weeks ago. Adam Pearson, who knows him well, has distanced

himself from the matter. I spoke to the leader of Leeds council today

and like any lead United fan he once to know more. Anything headed up by

Lucas, who is a legend, anyone who talks about working with the

supporters trust, you have to be interested in that. We all want more

detail. So ( for all international duties meant that just the League

one Ansley two sides were in action at the weekend. Hansen and Wells, a

vintage strike partnership. Yesterday they got together against

Coventry. For the hat`trick, this penalty came after the bantams fell

behind again. Wells finished from the spot. They bounced just above

rather, who beat Stevenage. In the second half quart Davis outmuscled

the keeper to make it two points. Michael O'Connor saved the best to

last. Colour as the defending from Sheffield United gifted the lead. No

such problems for Chesterfield who are joint top of league one. Oliver

Banks put them ahead at Torquay. And Ryan Bowman got on the end of Luke

O'Neill's cross to put your in front against Plymouth. But they threw

away the lead later with some tentative defending and finished

with the scores equal. He's not old enough to drive a car

on the roads, but he is driving them at around 160 miles per hour on the

race track! 16`year`old Alex Gill from Womersley fits in race driving

around his A`levels. But while his talent and dedication can't be

questioned, there's another ingredient Alex needs if he's to

reach the top of his sport. Ian Bucknell reports.

The sun comes up over Rockingham Raceway in Northampton and the most

important day of Alex Gill's driving career. He is a reigning British

karting champion but this is just the second time that he has raced

cars. I'm quite nervous. I just have to make sure that the car is ready.

Whilst Alex gets ready for the race, his dad Steve fears it could be his

last. It costs ?150,000 to support a driver through a season. Those

sponsors are vital. He knows if I do not managed to get him, shall

partners before March is probably where it ends. It is not a nice

situation but it is a fact of life. Alex is taking part in the formula

Renault Autumn cup. His mother cannot bear to match `` to watch. If

I sit in a certain spot and he does not do well, I sit somewhere else.

We do have superstitions. Alex steadily improved his time is in

spite of gearbox problems. But at the start of the race he lost second

place in the grid. That is inexperienced. But he soon starts to

pick off cars in front of him and that is talent. Alex finishes

second. His dad is pleased but also frustrated knowing that his son may

not get the chance to fulfil his potential. He has 10% of the budget

of the people he is racing against and so what he has got, I have to

back it to the last bit that I can. Alex has achieved a lot in his short

career. Whether his progress continues may depend more on money

than motor racing ability. I am slightly in all of the next

guess! `` in awe of the next guest. He is one of the's best`known

comedians. He is now going back on the road. It is good to see you. We

are going to go back in time a little bit. Remember that white

suit. You rose to fame in 1975 with the single Funky Moped. Let's have a

look at you in action on Top of the Pops.

Sorry to make you cringe! You rose to fame with that single. It was the

B`side. What can you tell us about that? It was banned by the BBC. I'm

the only person that I know in Britain who had a record banned by

the BBC, and an OBEs! But it was the comedy that made your name. I sent

myself up doing Top of the Pops because I should never have been

there, really. I was in the folk scene and they thought it was

hysterical. But things have moved on a bit since then. I remember you in

the 1980s very well, shows like Carrott's Lib and Carrott's

Commercial Breakdown. Saturday nights in the 1980s, that meant you.

It was like then. It was real pressure. I was doing 40 minute

shows and all the material was written in the week. It is not as if

you had rehearsed it anywhere and you had to go straight to air. It

really was pressure but a fantastic experience. What about your new

material? There are so many comics around now. None of them are old

enough to do material about grandchildren getting old, looking

forward to death! Let us have a look.

I cannot get rid of them. I am cleaning up after them, my arm up

the EU banned because Buzz Lightyear has gone swimming! Three hours solid

playing piggyback. I fell off! What you think about new comics?

They are very good. The good thing about comedy now is that whatever

you like, you can get it. Stand`up comedy used to be ten minutes on the

Cilla Black show. I tend to do what I have always done, no bad language,

keep it clean. And when I do the show in Wakefield in February, that

the theatre Royal! Wonderful people. I am coming with a show called

stand`up and rock. We could talk to you for hours, but you for hours,

but your band! Now they're one of the biggest bands

in the world, and can you believe it's been over ten years since they

formed in their native High Green on the outskirts of Sheffield? Well,

five number one albums later, they're back in their hometown to

play Sheffield Arena. The original date had to be cancelled because of

illness. But our man Shamir Masri has been given exclusive access to

catch up with a couple of the band. Having yet again reached the number

one spot with their latest album, the Arctic Monkeys are undoubtedly

one of the most successful bands in the world.

It is amazing that people still like us. We never expected all of our

albums to be successful. You pretend it is not bothered `` you're not

bothered whether it gets to number one. But when it does, it is

exciting. There are back with a homecoming gig that had to be

cancelled when the lead singer picked up a virus. We had to wait

until Disney on ice was over! The family have all got ice skate!

Tonight fans of their music will be packed into the venue for their

first Sheffield gig in over two years. I think we have killed up a

different fan base. `` D. `` built up. I think half of the arena will

be related to us! It has been ten years since their first ever gig. It

was a massive day for us. The biggest night of our lives. We went

on at about six o'clock! I remember it well. Do not be surprised if they

are still going strong in another decade.

Great to get them on the show. We do start with an ice warning for

tonight. There will be a widespread frost as well. Other than that

tomorrow will be wrapped up warm day with lots of sunshine. This system

will bring rain tomorrow night. Perhaps preceded by some sleet and

snow over the Pennines. Then it is brighter on Wednesday afternoon.

Much colder air is coming from the North. But many of the showers will

miss this region. But there's still a lot dampness around. The blisters

will be out. Just the odd chance of an isolated flurry of snow. The sun

will rise in the morning at 7:40am. So watch out first thing for frost

and ice on the roads. Otherwise it is clear blue skies for many. You

just might see some wintry showers on the coastal strip. Cold for most

of us but a lovely bright sunny day. Around four or five degrees. Rain at

first on Wednesday, brighter later. Then scattered showers on Thursday.

Thank you to everyone who helped the region raised over 1.8 million

pounds. 'We wanna do

a science fiction series.' CS Lewis meets HG Wells meets

Father Christmas, that's the Doctor.