:00:35. > :00:37.The arrival of the Prime Minister and the Conservative
:00:38. > :00:39.party conference in Birmingham has prompted a demonstration ag`inst the
:00:40. > :00:42.austerity cuts. Hundreds of people from across the region marched
:00:43. > :00:45.through the city to highlight what they call the cost of living crisis
:00:46. > :01:03.affecting ordinary working people. Here's Joan Cummins.
:01:04. > :01:29.We just want a decent life, a pay rise and to be able to live in our
:01:30. > :01:32.communities in a fair way. The unions say they are simply trying to
:01:33. > :01:37.persuade the government to rethink their austerity measures. Wd are
:01:38. > :01:42.asking for the ability to fded our kids, have a decent life. It's not a
:01:43. > :01:44.lot to ask for. This is the first of many demonstrations planned by the
:01:45. > :01:48.joint unions. They say they are determined that their voices will be
:01:49. > :01:53.heard. Austerity is not the answer. We need an alternative. I'm not
:01:54. > :01:57.interested in these million`ire guys. They know nothing abott our
:01:58. > :02:00.lives. We are poor here. Thdre are billions and billions in unpaid tax
:02:01. > :02:03.which would more than cover the deficit in a couple of years. It is
:02:04. > :02:08.ordinary people paying for the mistakes. David Cameron will use the
:02:09. > :02:10.Birmingham conference to galvanise the party faithful for the general
:02:11. > :02:12.election battle next year. Outside, with industrial action planned in
:02:13. > :02:17.public sector next month, there are growing signs that he may h`ve a
:02:18. > :02:21.fight on his hands. The delegates tend to be in their
:02:22. > :02:25.own little bubble. They havd lots of tea and coffee. The people H've been
:02:26. > :02:32.talking to, most of them didn't know what was happening. If you people
:02:33. > :02:36.had heard about this demonstration comedies and T austerity protests.
:02:37. > :02:43.They certainly don't agree with the sentiment of it. One gentlelan said
:02:44. > :02:47.'s rights to voice their ophnion but they are committing the information,
:02:48. > :02:51.things like manufacturing exports are wrapped and that there `re more
:02:52. > :02:55.private`sector jobs in the Lidlands. There was a suggestion this could be
:02:56. > :02:58.the last major party conferdnce in Birmingham for some time but the
:02:59. > :03:04.stories seem to like it herd. `` the Tories.
:03:05. > :03:09.We had heard that these events had gone off the boil. But what we've
:03:10. > :03:15.heard from the Conservatives today is that they are coming back in
:03:16. > :03:24.2016, 2018 and 2020. That is a big deal for Birmingham.
:03:25. > :03:32.football, West Brom beat Burnley 4`0, Saido Berahino scored
:03:33. > :03:35.twice as Albion recorded thdir third victory of the week. In the
:03:36. > :03:37.Championship Wolves looked to have grabbed a late winner at Re`ding
:03:38. > :03:40.when Dave Edwards scored with just five minutes remaining. But the home
:03:41. > :03:43.side hit back to share the points in a 3`3 draw.
:03:44. > :03:45.One rugby result in the Championship, Moseley lost 29`1
:03:46. > :03:48.against the Cornish Pirates. 50 years ago today Midlands Today
:03:49. > :03:50.transmitted its very first programme. Since then we've been
:03:51. > :03:58.bringing you the news from `ll around the region, broadcasting to
:03:59. > :04:02.To celebrate our anniversary we've been
:04:03. > :04:09.trawling through the archivds. All this week, we're looking back
:04:10. > :04:14.over 50 years of Midlands Today From Veteran Broadcaster Tol Coyne.
:04:15. > :04:20.We've covered everything from acts of terrorism, 21 people werd killed
:04:21. > :05:08.in the Birmingham Pub bombings to protests, here there's outcry to
:05:09. > :05:10.We'll have all this and more at 6.30pm, evdry
:05:11. > :05:14.this week. And Mary will be joined by Nick Owen
:05:15. > :05:17.to bring you a very special edition of Midlands Today at 6.30pm
:05:18. > :05:19.tomorrow evening. Let's take a check on the wdather
:05:20. > :05:34.Tonight, it looks as though we are in for a mainly dry night. Puite a
:05:35. > :05:39.cloudy one. Very, very mild temperatures at around 12 or 13
:05:40. > :05:42.Celsius. As for tomorrow, there is some rain around and some qtite
:05:43. > :05:44.persistent times as well,