11/09/2013 North West Tonight

Welcome to the programme. Our top story: Hillsborough families express

anger as evidence emerges that the statements. The fans that words

anger as evidence emerges that the have suffered as well. It is a huge

insult to them. We will hear why investigation is too slow. The

Lancashire MP facing a sex charge —— eight sex charges makes a statement

Disabled workers losing their jobs mourned the close of this factory.

I've been here for 26 years and mourned the close of this factory.

The sister of a Blackpool teenager killed in race —— murder helps ——

asks Ed Miliband to help in her campaign against sexist and violent

And we find out if the witches from the West End can work their magic on

An appalling insult to those who died and those who have survived

Hillsborough, that is how families describing the news that police

Hillsborough, that is how families Officers may have altered witnesses

accounts of the disaster. Some relatives today criticised what

accounts of the disaster. Some see as the slow progress of the

enquiry being conducted by the IPC beginning of the end. An independent

panel concerning what the families of those who died in Hillsborough

been let down on the day of the disaster and misled since. That

been let down on the day of the exactly one year ago. Investigations

since our moving too slowly for exactly one year ago. Investigations

afternoon. The emphasis on the last year has been around moving into

premises, recruiting staff but progression in respect of interviews

or any action taken. The main target of criticism is the IPCC. We've

or any action taken. The main target the foundations in place to begin

investigation into police misconduct retaliation in first by releasing an

updating to its investigation hours before the press conference began

here. They revealed that nearly before the press conference began

police statements they have been tampered with, that is many more

than was previously thought. For the first time, they also suggested

than was previously thought. For the statements given by football fans

may also have been altered. The revelations did little to impress

these campaigners. We have been years. The IPC C have issued a

statement today, yes. They now Obviously we totally welcome any

move forward but our concern is Obviously we totally welcome any

this isn't moving fast enough. It is now 24 years since 96 lost their

lives at a football match. I lost my son at Hillsborough, his name was

When the people who were responsible are brought to justice, I believe it

will be done. I want to see people This afternoon, I spoke to Charlotte

Hennessey from the campaign, whose father died. I ask for her reaction

to the possibility that statements given by supporters may also have

absolutely appalling. The fans that were airlifted and have suffered as

well. It is a huge insult for them to find that their statements have

been doctored as well. It is just not on. This has come out because of

the investigation. Do you feel that investigation? I do feel that they

are carrying out an investigation. I don't feel it is moving quickly

enough. It took Hillsborough the Independent panel just two years to

release the report. 12 months down the line, we are still waiting for

arrests. We know that a handful the line, we are still waiting for

arrests have been made but when the line, we are still waiting for

investigation, why only a handful? know statements have been changed

accountable for their actions. It is not moving quickly enough. The IPC C

would say they are moving as fast as investigation to be the definitive

account of what that day. —— IPCC. Do you accept that? We are not

asking them to rush. We are asking them to give us updates of what

asking them to rush. We are asking is that they have done. We don't

have updates like that. We don't know what it is that they are doing.

information, how can we have trust in these people? You have lived

information, how can we have trust this your entire life. You continue

father. I will fight for justice for my dad until the bitter end. I am

not going anywhere and it is not just about my dad. It is about the

other 95 victims that died on that day. We know that Hillsborough was

completely and utterly preventable. They did not deserve to die on that

day. Also, I'm fighting for justice for my survivor friends who have

also had to live with this and live with the trauma every single day.

Charlotte Hennessey speaking to with the trauma every single day.

The Lancashire MP Nigel Evans made a speech in the House of Commons

today. He defiantly protested his innocence after he was charged with

eight sex offences including rape. He said he would continue as an

eight sex offences including rape. but was stepping down as a Commons

He told his fellow MPs he was going through hell and said he would fight

the allegations to the bitter end. To a hushed chamber, Nigel Evans

began this personal statement saying innocence. Winston Churchill said,

keep going. Sage advice. I will innocence. Winston Churchill said,

this through to the end. He will return to the backbenches and Saddam

Parliament for the Ribble Valley. —— and serve as a independent member.

I'm proud to serve the people of the Ribble Valley and the best tribute I

can give them now is to get on with the job that they said to be here to

do. His decision to sever side as deputy speaker will not come as

do. His decision to sever side as surprise to many. At Preston police

station last night, he was charged assault, five counts of sexual

assault and one of rape, all against men. He still has a lot of support

in his constituency but should he step aside as MP? Nigel has been a

very good MP for is for 20 years and we should support him. Many of his

constituents say he has continued to be a good MP since the original

allegations were made back in May but do they think you can carry

allegations were made back in May with the trial looming? He has been

charged but he has not been found guilty of anything yet. No, I don't

think you should stand down at all. He will not be able to commit to his

duties properly. He will appear He will not be able to commit to his

The number of people out of work in people are unemployed. It's the

second quarter in a row that the Patrick McLaughlin said HS two will

stronger. A new report claims the high—speed rail line will help

greater Manchester 's economy grow by up to £1.3 billion. But some

greater Manchester 's economy grow say the scheme will not be value for

A 12—year—old boy is in the six people who has been arrested after a

sawn off shotgun was discovered people who has been arrested after a

Anfield. Two teenagers aged 15 and The CPS has been defending its

decision to prosecute the Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell. Our

reporter has been following this. The CPS has come under fire from

Yes, they have. Michael Le Vell The CPS has come under fire from

cleared of all charges yesterday following a week—long trial today,

his family, supporters are various commentators in the media were

questioning the CPS 's decision commentators in the media were

bring a prosecution against him commentators in the media were

there appeared to be nothing to corroborate the testimony. The CPS

has come out fighting today. Someone not one. I don't even know what

has come out fighting today. Someone is. Nobody should be above the law

in this country. It doesn't matter who they are. Somebody said to me

yesterday, you only pick on certain people. I cannot win. I am being

Although he and his colleagues brought the case against the actor

this year, a very high profile case, they had considered a prosecution a

It does urge the allegations were Northwest reviewed the evidence

It does urge the allegations were decided in December of that year

that there was too little to merit a prosecution. Two months later, the

complaint against the CPS. The case was reviewed in February this year

decision was influenced by the fact the Jimmy Savile story had broken.

Those in these kind of cases who make the complaint are protected by

anonymity. One issue now that this case has raised is whether or not

the accused should get that same You are right. The victims are

guaranteed anonymity. Many think actor was cleared. He's an innocent

including his heavy drinking, his affairs and so on were made public.

The question is should he or anyone have to go through that? Today,

The question is should he or anyone director of public prosecutions

defended the decision to prosecute identifying subjects were there

defended the decision to prosecute prosecutor and a real... The test

for the jury is whether the case is proven beyond reasonable doubt.

for the jury is whether the case is fact that a decision is taken to

start a case and doesn't end up fact that a decision is taken to

conviction doesn't mean it was improperly brought. I think it is

very important that we reaffirm shouldn't have been brought is

The actor has denied —— described his life over the last six months as

sheer hell. He's about to go into discussions with producers at ITV on

a return to Coronation Street. Disabled workers have broken down in

tears after they were told the eighth Remploy in the Northwest

tears after they were told the It means that 75 years or subsidised

jobs for disabled people have come to an end. The government has said

it is integrating those who have been made redundant into mainstream

Workers at this recycling plant been made redundant into mainstream

today given the devastating news that they were being made redundant.

Many whose entire working life has abandoned. It is a joke. I've been

here for 26 years and this is what they do. Sorry. Others who put their

heart and soul into the company they do. Sorry. Others who put their

a badge of honour had been ripped from them. I'm putting something

nothing. This closure means the from them. I'm putting something

of Remploy as a manufacturer in from them. I'm putting something

Northwest. Founded by night —— in 1946, it provided jobs for severely

injured men and women. It grew to employ thousands nationally, making

everything from printed circuit boards to parcels. Last year, a

recommended that all loss—making sites should close and workers

should find new jobs in mainstream workers. A colleague the other week

left in 2008 and he has still not got a job. The closure programme

Birkenhead, Bolton and Oldham were either closed or sold off, followed

followed in December with Burnley in July of this year. Last month,

Blackburn announced it would close. Hayward has taken years total to

336. The government says it is not closing role —— loss—making sites to

try to save money but insists in the disabilities like this should be

working in mainstream industry with the rest of society. Some argue

working in mainstream industry with is a laudable aim but are the jobs

there? The government says that either of those who have taken up

our employment support package, either of those who have taken up

people are now in jobs and training in north—west. We know that many

more than this are in work but have chosen not to be tracked through

their national insurance details. It is extremely difficult. If you take

what the secretary of state has is extremely difficult. If you take

today which is that we are looking at an uncertain market, and you

today which is that we are looking at the way in which the market is

changing 20 hours contracts, for disabled people, I think we are

looking at a very uncertain market. As workers left the factory, they

reflected on today's unemployment figures which show the Northwest has

the largest quarterly rise in the We asked the government minister for

the disabled for an interview but she was unavailable. On tomorrow's

programme, we will have a special report speaking to former Wren ploy

workers from Wigan. —— Remploy. The sister of the murdered Blackpool

teenager Sasha Marston has met Ed Miliband to urge him to tackle

attitudes towards women. Sasha was stabbed to death in a sexually

motivated attack last January. This sister believes the behaviour

of some men is being adversely affected by the way in which women

Gemma was invited to Westminster after e—mailing Ed Miliband and

telling him what happened to her younger sister. Sasha Marston, a

student, was stabbed 58 times and her body set on fire when she was

cleared to a Blackpool hotel with the promise of a part—time job.

cleared to a Blackpool hotel with killer was jailed for life. Gemma

believes attitudes towards women in affecting behaviour towards women.

because there is so much of it, affecting behaviour towards women.

is normalising the attitude that girls are things. Girls are not

things, they are people. Very nice to meet you. Please come in. In

things, they are people. Very nice private meeting, she urged him to

advertising and the media. And to work to improve sex education in

schools. I was moved by your e—mail and thank you very much for writing

to me. Also incredibly sorry about the terrible experience you've been

through. What is amazing about her is not just that something terrible

happened to her family but she is now trying to make something good

came out of it. The things she cares most about other way in which women

and girls are portrayed in our society. Mr Miliband has spoken

and girls are portrayed in our in the past against the way others

portray women. Whether it was part of the explanation of Sasha 's case

or not, I know it has a mission of the explanation of Sasha 's case

—— an issue in our society and I'm determined to do something about it.

He seemed to listen. He seemed to say that he wants to help. He said

he would think about how we can say that he wants to help. He said

about that. I will hope that he say that he wants to help. He said

sincere. The Labour leader has pledged to keep in contact with

Gemma and support her work to change Still to come: New York firefighters

who survived the September the Still to come: New York firefighters

attack visit a Lancashire village. And we will be meeting the witches

of the West End whose success would turn other actors green with envy.

It is an event that those of us forget. Today marks 12 years since

the September the 12th —— September the 11th terror attacks in New

York. Many firefighters played a key Today, some of those surviving

officers came to a special memorial Lancashire, whose bond with the

officers came to a special memorial spans one —— hundreds of years.

Images that will never be forgotten. What happened on 9/11 shocks the

world and lives. Today, we pause to remember... Few remember that better

than these New York firefighters, anniversary in this village which

was... My ancestry is here. He's wonderful people and your warmth,

thank you for your generosity and your generosity Angela. Mike Sally

Alok retired a month before. Hearing what was happening, he went to help.

I got choked up. All of us spent days at funerals in our uniforms.

England for years to link up with Northwest. For many, it is the first

time they've been away from loved Unfortunately, 343 firefighters

thankful that we have family to Unfortunately, 343 firefighters

to. Other families today, it's painful for them. Being with these

guys, it's meant so much to me since I came over in 2005. It helps a

lot. The firefighters also had a tour of the village, stopping off

for refreshments at the George Washington pub. There's lots of

Washington heritage around the village. I cannot thank them enough

for coming and seeing us. They are wonderful. I feel very honoured

for coming and seeing us. They are memories will remain. Goodwill from

around the world still provides memories will remain. Goodwill from

Sport and one of Everton 's transfer deadline day 's signings says he is

determined to make his move to midfielder has been speaking for the

first time since his move from Wigan for a fee of about £14 million.

first time since his move from Wigan will be some familiar faces from his

least his manager. He says linking up with him again was a key factor

in his decision to move to Goodison Park. He's a very good manager.

in his decision to move to Goodison think you can see that he likes

in his decision to move to Goodison pleasing for people watching. It is

Lancashire 's County championship promotion charge has been held up by

Let's hope the weather doesn't The smash hit musical, Wicked, has

seen a decade of success. Tomorrow, the show will open in Manchester.

Tomorrow night 's performance will Ireland tour and there is a very

personal Northwest connection. Wicked is one of the most popular

West End shows ever and tomorrow night, the musical will kick off its

national tour with its first—ever UK performance outside London, in

Manchester. For the leading lady, occasion. It is so exciting for

Manchester. For the leading lady, It's 40 minutes away from home for

me. All my family and friends can come and it is really exciting to be

appear. Wicked is the untold story of the witches from the Wizard of Oz

it's proving very popular with audiences in the Northwest. We have

sold over 100,000 tickets. We've added extra matinees to meet the

demand. We really are overwhelmed by the response. It will also travel to

Dublin, Cardiff and Birmingham. the response. It will also travel to

weeks in Manchester is the longest run in any single location. Moving

such an extravaganza around the undertaking. There is a massive

such an extravaganza around the of people who have been working

such an extravaganza around the very long time to logistically make

this work. We are trying to give audiences the very best version

this work. We are trying to give final rehearsals are underway. It is

such an honour that they finally given me the role and I'm really

excited to be taking it on for myself and owning it. It's great.

Tomorrow morning would be better than the afternoon. Good evening. We

are still looking better to cooler conditions that we had through

towards Friday and Saturday. If conditions that we had through

watch that pool of cool air starting to move down across the whole of the

country, we start to see that on Saturday. It is a temporary thing.

You've heard about snow and gales all have read about them in the

newspapers, not for us. That's not worry about that just yet. Today has

been about the rain. Light and patchy through the morning but after

lunch, it will start to take hold. It has been a very disappointing

day. The back edge of that working through of the last couple of hours

for many of us. While it is not completely going, sometimes our

radar cannot pick up a fine stuff. Many places are still seeing some

rain. From here onwards, it is very grey. Most of us will see the light

stuff dying away as the night goes on but if you look close to the

Pennines or the Cumbrian fells, on but if you look close to the

will continue to see a few spots of rain every now and then. The other

problem we will have towards the early hours is missed. I think

visibility will be an issue first thing tomorrow morning but your

temperatures will be about 12 to 14. That is your picture first thing. If

you spots of drizzle still around. visibility isn't brilliant. This

should die away and fingers crossed they would be a dry spell and even a

bright spell from time to time. they would be a dry spell and even a

cloud cover tries to thin and break but the next line of weather is

waiting in the wings. The way we are looking at it at the moment is once

you get past lunchtime, the cloud will thicken more and the rain will

push towards the coast. It may not tea—time. The rain will spread