19/04/2017 Look North (Yorkshire)

There are just 49 days, 12 hours and 32 minutes

The countdown to the General Election has officially begun.

Tonight, two former party leaders tell us they're ready

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will stand

Labour's Ed Miliband wants to stay in Doncaster.What do you want

Surely it is not like to turn our venerable democracy in Westminster

into a plaything for one person at number ten?

What do you want from this election campaign?

We hear from Yorkshire's youngest voters and older voters too.

What should they be up talking about in this election? Don't ask me, I am

sick of it. Last year I was 17 so I could not vote for the exit vote,

now it is my chance to get my voice heard.

Also tonight: Bowling them over - the Yorkshire bowler who's taken

And, we'll speak to the Strictly champion about her new challenge

Slightly milder conditions to come tomorrow, join me for the detailed

forecast. Tonight, MPs have backed

the Prime Minister's call It means there are just seven weeks

and a day until we go The next election

wasn't due till 2020. To make it happen,

two-thirds of MPs had to agree to a change

in the date. And already, two former party

leaders based here in Yorkshire have Our political reporter James Vincent

joins us live from Doncaster. James, the opposition parties

aren't going to take this Not at all. The news from Doncaster

where we are tonight is that all three Labour MPs in the town will

stand for re-election. That includes Ed Miliband in Doncaster. He let us

know earlier today that he would be standing again. He has not given any

interviews today, saying there was never any doubt that he would stand

again as Doncaster North MP. One other politician who kept us

guessing right until the last minute was Nick Clegg. We were in Sheffield

earlier to find out if he would stay, or if he would go. Our liberal

conservative government will take Britain in an historic new

direction. Seven years ago, Nick Clegg was in a posh garden. It was

Downing Street, and he was the new Deputy Prime Minister. Cut to 2017,

and he is in a lovely, but more modest garden in Sheffield to tell

us whether he is standing or not in this surprise general election. Once

you knew there was going to be a general election, the next decision

was whether you would stand. Was it an easy decision? I thought about

it, as everyone should either way. It is a great honour and one should

never be flippant about putting yourself forward. It is a very

solemn thing to do, to put yourself before thousands of your fellow

citizens and say I want to try and represent your interests as best I

can. I have always taken that duty very seriously in Parliament. There

have been some ups and downs for Nick Clegg. In 2010 he was the man.

He had all the best hash tags anti-ulcer had the support of

students because he made a promise on tuition fees. Then... He paid for

it when, in the eyes of the students, that promise was broken.

There were some furious rewriting of placards and some pretty big

protest. Politically, Sheffield Hallam is the only bit of yellow in

Yorkshire's flowerbed of red. Two people here still agree with him? He

promised they would not increase fees at all, but that first promise

he broke it. I don't know who will believe in him. I am excited to hear

what kind of policies he will bring, what kind of things can be done for

the EU and Brexit. With what he said about students last time, and how he

sold them out, that was diabolical. But looking at the choices we have

got, better the devil you know. What are the issues for you? It is the

third big election in three years. Nick Clegg has a majority of over

2000 in Sheffield Hallam. It was cut significantly last time, but in an

area where it is estimated more people voted to remain in the EU

than leave, he will be hoping to get votes from both Labour and the

Conservatives. MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour

of a general election. Just one MP from our area was against it.

Absolutely. Only 13 MPs in the whole country decided they did not want an

election. In our part of the world it was Dennis Skinner, who has been

MPs in 1970. A thorn in the Conservative's side ever since, and

again today. Will the Prime Minister give a guarantee that no Tory MP who

is under investigation by the police and the legal authorities over

election expenses in the last general election be a candidate in

this election, because if she won't accept that, this is a most squalid

election campaign that has happened in my lifetime. Big personalities

there. What else do we know about who is standing in the election? We

have had journalists with sewn in one hand and e-mail in the other,

try to work out who is standing and who is not. Most of our MPs are

standing again, but we have not heard from Dennis Skinner or Natasha

Engel, MP for North East Derbyshire. The rest of the parties will now

start that process very quickly of getting their candidates in place to

challenge those incumbent MPs. We are starting to hit a few things

about who is standing by. It will be a few days before everything is in

place. So, seven weeks and one day to go. What happens now? Well, it is

all going to be a bit of a mad scramble because there will be

politicians and parties trying to scramble to make sure they have got

candidates. There will be news crews try to make sure they can cover

them. You will probably see things like politicians in hard hats going

round factories, you will see placards of every colour, and a few

babies being kissed. That is the cliche. Get ready for those because

they are on their way. It is an election, and it is happening in

about 50 days' time. Thank you, James.

The last time we all voted was in the EU Referendum last year.

Then, many younger people voted to remain in the European Union,

while more older people voted to leave.

So will there be a generation gap this time?

We've been canvassing opinion with some first-time voters

Heidi Tomlinson is in Leeds and Abi Jaiyeola is in Malton.

Heidi, is there a sense of excitement among

Yes, I think they were excited. The students I spoke to today were

surprised at being given the opportunity to vote for the first

time so soon. We have come to millennium Square, the heart of the

Leeds Central constituency. This is one of Labour's safest seats. Hilary

Benn has been MP here since 1999. A real mix of people live here. There

are deprived amenities, the financial industry in the heart of

the city centre, there are two hospitals and two universities, and

that is where we turned our attention today.

Sixth form politics students on the cusp of A-levels, and their first

vote in a general election. What issues came to the forefront of your

mind? I think I am excited about being able to vote for the first

time. I was worried about exit. I am glad to have a chance to vote now I

am 18. I was concerned about austerity. I am shocked because she

said she would not hold one. Last year I was 17 so I could not vote in

the Brexit vote, so now it is my chance to get my voice heard. There

is the chance, but it is also a shock election. Usually you would

have five years to choose who to vote for and we have got seven

weeks. You going to make the effort to vote? It is important that young

people turn out because this is a chance for us now to pick up where

we may have not got what we wanted with the Brexit referendum. I was

not happy with the Brexit result, so now it's my chance to express how I

felt them. The election has been called not only to build on the

Conservative majority in the House of Commons, but also to ensure that

Brexit can go through. Your first vote, can account in this election,

given the circumstances? I think it is the first time many people our

age will be voting, this is a new generation that has been punished

particularly badly by the Conservatives. We have had strangled

youth mental health services, the coalition hurt us with tuition fees,

and this is the first time to hold them to account. I am going to put

you all on the spot now and ask you will vote for. Conservative or

liberal Democrat. Liberal Democrat. Labour. Labour. Conservative.

Labour. So, a real range of opinion there,

as you would expect in such a diverse constituency. Some hesitancy

there as well over who people were going to vote for. You would expect

that kind of thing, given the fact that a quarter of the population

here are aged between 18-24. There are a lot of young people, so their

views will be important in this election. Let's go to a constituency

in North Yorkshire now to hear about other people's views.

I am in the heart of the Thirsk and Malton constituency, eight save

Conservative seat. The MP has a majority of more than 19,000.

Traditionally, voter turnout is high. It is an area that has quite a

low population of 18-24 -year-olds, but a higher percentage of over

55-year-olds. Around 40% of the population here for into that age

bracket. I have spoken to them today about their hopes for the

forthcoming election. In seven weeks' time, shoppers here

will be making what might be a more difficult choice. What colour

political party to vote for. How do you feel about the election? I am

sick to death of hearing about it already. What should they be talking

about in this election? Don't ask me, I am sick of it. For potential

voters here, there is one issue they expect to dominate the agenda.

Brexit. And her having a strong mandate. That is what it is all

about. They should be concentrating more on Brexit it is not just about

Brexit, it is what we are going to get out of it. 55% of people in this

area voted in favour of leaving the EU. This is an area that is a

traditional safe Conservative seat, but there is still a range of views

about what people would like to see from the next government. On this

occasion, I am hoping that there will be a bit more power to whoever

is in government to sort out the NHS. I would like to see something

done about the ?13 billion, ever increasing, which are sent abroad.

Send money abroad by all means, but directed more cavalry. We have to

look at low pay and housing. If you have low pay, you can't afford your

housing. I am from a farming background, and what will have

happen with regard to the farms? There is one issue that everyone

here is agreed on. Who will vote in the general election?

One question you've asked us today, with just seven weeks

left until the electio, is how do you actually

What was turnout like at the last election? At the last election, a

lot more people voted than usual so turnout was just over 66%, more than

in 2010, and more than any time in the last 20 years. Compare it to the

EU referendum, where voter turnout was 72%, which was huge am not quite

as many. That really did get people politically engaged. As Heidi

mentioned, it is young people, the under 25s that need to vote.

Crucially, if you are not registered, how do you go about it?

It is so easy, just go on the website, sign up and it just takes a

couple of minutes. All you need is your National Insurance number. If

you are registered to vote in local elections in May, you do not need to

register again. But if you have moved house you will need to. And

the key bit of information, when is the deadline? The 22nd of May, so

not long now. Thank you. We'll catch up with last

year's Strictly champion as she takes her dancing skills

to the stage in Leeds. A 30-year-old man has been arrested

on suspicion of murder Derbyshire Police were called

to a collision between a motorbike The incident took place

near the Boot and Shoe Inn in Grassmoor, near Chesterfield,

and police said an altercation A 74-year-old man was taken

to hospital, where he later died. after the deaths of six people

in Yorkshire in apparent class Three men and a woman were found

dead at separate addresses around The following day two men

died in West Yorkshire. Police forces in both areas

are liaising but the deaths Sheffield's Jess Ennis-Hill has been

made a Dame today in a ceremony The Olympic gold medal winning

heptathlete received the honour She's been recognised

for services to athletics. The redevelopment of Headingley

stadium in Leeds is a step closer after a financial deal was approved

by Leeds City Council A deal brokered by the Council

which will see an unnamed private investor provide ?35 million

towards the project. Yorkshire County Cricket Club had

warned that without redevelopment, they would lose the chance

to host international matches. Leeds Rhinos has pledged

?5 million toward the cost. We have gone through in fine detail

the economic benefit of having these major sporting events, World Cup

rugby as well, coming to Headingley, and the contribution to the economy

and the jobs created is phenomenal. We are talking millions of pounds.

On the field, there's a lot of excitement about Yorkshire's next

match on Friday away to Hampshire, and the new star

Yes, Ben Coad is the name on everyone's lips.

He's a North Yorkshireman, with a big future.

And as Paul Ogden reports, Yorkshire are hoping to keep a firm

Not long ago, Ben Coad would have been playing in today's Yorkshire

second-team match at a chilly Headingley against Gloucester.

But now he is a first-team starter, getting ready to face Hampshire

on Friday after taking 18 wickets already from their

I don't think there's any real secret, it has just been hard

It has just been waiting for that break to come.

It is never good to have injuries in the team, but when they come,

you have got to take your chance and I think I have done that.

I felt really good in the preseason, and I felt really

good about all of it, the rhythm and the action.

I thought it would be a good season but I could never

A product of Studley Royal and Harrogate Cricket clubs,

Ben Coad now finds himself at the very top of the County

Championship's most valuable player rankings.

With a new contract extension at Headingley to reward him.

It has been massive, massive encouragement from the crowd.

They can be critical at some points, but no, they have been great to me.

These last two weeks have been surreal.

So maybe there is just one bit of bad news today for Ben Coad.

Our next guest needs little introduction.

Joanne Clifton, won the nation's hearts in winning Strictly Come

dancing with her partner, TV presenter, Ore Oduba.

And the professional dancer now has a new challenge on her hands.

She's starring in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Leeds Grand Theatre.

Before we talk about her new challenge, let's remind

ourselves how she found out that she'd won Strictly.

I have got good goose pimples now, watching it!

I think you can see that from our faces.

Our goal was to get to Blackpool in week eight or nine,

and if we got to Blackpool we would have Nutella waffles.

We got to a few dance-offs and then we reached the final.

We thought we are never going to win it because Louise

is amazing and we have been in all the dance-offs and they haven't.

We just went out there and we did not put any pressure

You were up against your brother Kevin, how was that?

But you know what, as you saw on the clip, he picked me up,

spun me around, and I actually said "I'm sorry" to him.

He has been in the final four times now and never won it.

Then I came in, I didn't have a partner last year,

I said sorry, and he said, "Don't ever say that again

because there is nobody in this room who could be prouder of

So you are a professional dancer and your brother is,

and your mum and dad - how much of an influence did they play

They were world number one and British champions,

What my dad used to teach us the most is the performance side

of it and getting the audience to be moved by your performance, rather

And it was your mum who persuaded your dad to get involved.

Yes, he was a non-dancer, but my mum knew his family

because my auntie was a dancer as well, and they basically knew

each other through his sister, fell in love, and wanted

They must be enormously proud of your success.

Oh, yes, they have got the glitter ball on the mantelpiece in Grimsby.

Of course now you have got a new role appearing on stage

It's amazing, this is a childhood dream.

I wanted to do musical theatre as a kid, and I did have

singing and acting lessons when I was still in Grimsby.

But then I decided to just go with the dancing and not

to musical theatre school, so I went with the dancing,

I moved over to Italy and studied there for 14 years,

came back to do Strictly, and then I thought I would take up

I have been doing it since 2014, having private lessons.

I have done two smaller musicals while I have been back in England,

but this is my first big UK tour, and it is just everything

One final question, what is Craig Revelhorne

Do you like a dance? I do, I like a good number.

We'll talk later about that. I have seen you on the dance floor.

I thought I was bad! An absolute shocker.

I think you both would look fabulous in lycra.

Let me show you that three pictures that have come in in the last 24

hours. This is looking towards York Minster. Thank you for that. The

bluebells are out. I bet Harry wishes he was hit with that sunrise

in Scarborough, absolutely beautiful.

Do send us your pictures. We have got a new Instagram address.

Let's show you the headline for the next 24-hour. Rather cloudy and

mild. Milder air is on its way temporarily. This is Saturday's

chart, somewhat cooler air behind theirs. A night frost on Saturday

night, and next week we get a proper northerly and there will be

widespread frost. The showers next week could be wintry, with even some

sleet or snow. That is next week, not now. We are looking at the clout

that has been pushing down slowly, it is moving slowly south eastwards,

but it may well bring some light rain or drizzle to the Yorkshire

Dales. Pretty quiet overnight with a light breeze. Patchy light rain or

drizzle developing, especially later. They could be some misty nets

over the top of the Yorkshire Dales, and we will see temperatures,

certainly frost free in Thirsk and Bradford. So, the sun rises at

5:55am. It is a slow start in the morning.

The cloud they can asked to produce a little drizzle in places. That

weather front moves southwards, misty nets over the hills at first,

and gradually improving food the morning, leaving a generally dry

afternoon, but hopefully some writers bells coming through at

times. The breeze will be in the West. Dash-macro some writers bells.

Temperatures not looking too bad at all.

Friday, another fairly quiet day, quite breezy from the north-west,

but a dry day, Rather cloudy with brighter spells coming through.

Cooler but brighter conditions over the weekend with some sunshine,

variable cloud, and proper cold air coming next week.

Thank you. I view dancing? Are you asking?

I'm asking. Well, I can't refuse. Good night!