20/09/2013 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson — and

Annabel Tiffin. Our top story. It's hitting the already hard—up.

Labour leader Ed Miliband tells It's hitting the already hard—up.

It isn't working, it is unfair and it is a symbol of what the Labour

The Labour leader has been speaking exclusively to our Political Editor.

The assault case against Liverpool His girlfriend says she did the

That sinking feeling — why the naming of Barrow's latest submarine

stratosphere — scientists discover life from Mars floating over the

And on your bike Sir Bradley! We meet the formidable four—year—old

First tonight, it has been dubbed the bedroom tax and has been called

the most hated and feared piece the bedroom tax and has been called

this government's legislation. Tonight, in an exclusive interview,

Ed Miliband has told this programme that if Labour get into government

they will scrap the policy. Our Political Editor, Arif Ansari, is

The way it works at the moment is here — what's the significance of

The way it works at the moment is that if someone has what is deemed

to be a spare bedroom it means they get less housing benefit than they

would have got previously, which is why lots of people have moved out of

their homes. Labour have really weapon eyes that policy, they say it

weaponised. The question then is, if it is so unfair, why are you not

repeal yet, and now Ed Miliband it is so unfair, why are you not

Billy Pickersgill lives in Kirkby on the 13th Floor, and not by choice.

We first met Billy in April when he was preparing to leave his three

bedroom house. Because he lived alone he was going to lose some

bedroom house. Because he lived his housing benefit. He could not

You have been in here a couple of His boxes remain on pack. How does

it compare to where you used to The neighbours, here you don't have

According to the Labour Party, 110,000 people have been affected in

have a disability. And the average loss in annual income is £728.

Labour opposed it but wouldn't Until now. It is wrong, it isn't

working, it is unfair and it is Until now. It is wrong, it isn't

symbol of what a Labour government would do and the difference a Labour

Do you accept you have been damaged by not taking that decision sooner?

No, because I think that what people expected of me, we can show that

We cannot continue to spend more than we earn to deal with the debts

that we have, because ultimately The policy is symbolic and the

political battle lines have now The policy is symbolic and the

more clearly drawn. Interesting announcement on our programme? I

think partly because he knows this is an issue that resonates in the

regions, if you like, and also because he knows he has been under

pressure from his own side to change interview with Ed Miliband in this

weekend's Sunday Politics. We will also be looking at the wider Labour

Party as they head into confidence. Liverpool footballer Raheem Sterling

collapsed this afternoon because the evidence against him was so weak. Mr

Sterling, who is 18, was accused of assaulting his girlfriend in a row

over a mobile phone text in August. Mr Sterling had pleaded not guilty,

and this afternoon the prosecution withdrew the charge. Our Merseyside

Reporter, Andy Gill, was in court Raheem Sterling came to Liverpool

Magistrates to answer a charge of girlfriend Shanna Halliday. The

prosecution case was that as the couple came back from —— deliberate

pool —— to Liverpool from a night out in Manchester. He allegedly

assaulted her by pushing and shoving her. They told magistrates they

assaulted her by pushing and shoving a recording of 999 call she had

assaulted her by pushing and shoving What happened when Shannah Halliday

Well, Ms Halliday spoke from behind a screen in the witness box to make

it easier for her. But she was barely audible and there were long

pauses. In her evidence she agreed there had been an argument in the

car on the way back to Liverpool but she said she started the pushing and

shoving because she wanted to see what was on Raheem Sterling's phone.

What she said in court was much weaker than her account to police at

the time. The prosecution then said to magistrates they wanted to treat

her as a hostile witness, meaning they could cross—examine their own

witness to test if she was telling the truth. Raheem Sterling's defence

said although her evidence was disappointing, she was not a hostile

witness, and they described the prosecution's move as clutching

witness, and they described the Well they agreed with the defence

and once they'd decided that the prosecution withdrew the case as

The prosecution stood up and said they were withdrawing the case

because there was no realistic Magistrates invited Raheem Sterling

into the dock where they formally Any reaction from Liverpool football

Nothing from the CPS, from Liverpool football club DC this is a private

matter and as such the football football club DC this is a private

will not be making any further Thank you very much. A man charged

with murdering his partner and son who were found with multiple stab

wounds in Lancashire has admitted 40—year—old Lisa Clay and six—year

old Joseph Chadwick were found at their home in Bolton—le—Sands in

April. 34—year—old Paul Chadwick pleaded guilty on the grounds of

diminished responsibility. He will A woman has received undisclosed

damages from Oldham Council after she hit a pothole and fell off her

Operations Director for the cycling unconscious in the town centre three

years ago. She also suffered a fractured jaw, cheek and fingers.

Oldham Council says there is a they're having to choose which to

The flags were out in Barrow today as the latest submarine produced by

its famous shipyard was officially named. Artful is the third of seven

Astute class subs being built in Cumbria. It was a carefully planned

event, and BAE Systems had spent a small fortune staging it. Then a

rogue bottle brought everything They have been building submarines

here for more than a century, but naming the latest is always a cause

shipyard. For the workers, such ceremonies are always special. Joe

years. Hannah is one of the newest recruits. They both share a sense of

pride. It is always exciting, it is a day where we can show off who

pride. It is always exciting, it is are and tell the world that we build

the finest boats in the world. It gives me a great sense of pride

the finest boats in the world. It I have worked on this product and I

can say I have worked on it. It I have worked on this product and I

great sense of pride. The great I have worked on this product and I

the good gathered to witness the naming of Artful. No matter how

the good gathered to witness the your planning, though, sometimes

I name this boat Artful. May God bless and all who sail in her.

eventuality. It was a case of second Artful is the third of seven Astute

So the boat has a name, she has Artful is the third of seven Astute

tradition she is not being launched today, that will happen next year.

They say it is a more efficient today, that will happen next year.

of building modern submarines. The Astute will keep the workforce busy

until the 2020s but what happens We are working on the replacement

for the existing submarines, the Vanguard submarines. That will —— is

subject to a decision taken in Parliament in 2015 and subject to

that parliamentary decision we will proceed to build that class of

Today, minds were focused on the present rather than the future.

An inauspicious start but such a I have been with Wigan athletic

An inauspicious start but such a as they follow the team in their

competition. And from blue to red at 12 — Manchester's football rivalry

You will find out later why we are very relieved to see Richard back

safely. Many of us will have had days out in the Peak District.

But did you know, it looked quite different a century ago? Climate

change, industry and even farming have all taken its toll on the

Now there are plans to restore it to conservation project which the

National Trust calls the biggest and most ambitious of its kind. Our

Environment Correspondent Judy The peak district attracts around 10

million visitors every year. The park is close to cities which were

at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. Heavy pollution from

factories, along with climate change and overgrazing have all taken their

toll. This is Derwent Valley and it If you could imagine an area where

the shrubs were different heights, there were trees, you could not

the shrubs were different heights, hillsides. It was a rich landscape

of different colours, soft and wet, and now in a lot of places it just

does not look like that, it is dry, The National trust has put together

a 50 year, —— conservation plan The National trust has put together

It is not just for us, it is for our children's children. If we did not

do it now, what heritage will be Peat bogs in the area are drying out

and they provide drinking water Peat bogs in the area are drying out

soak up carbon. The quality of the water that comes from the movers

ultimately ends up in our drinking water. The better that is, the

better for all of us. The National trust hopes that in about 20 years

there will be more trees, shrubs, Heather here, and with that and

there will be more trees, shrubs, And that will bring more visitors

here, which is still one of the walking boots on, doesn't it? He is

weekend Alex is hoping to become a British cycling champion. He is

among the children from a crashed the company who will be competing at

Manchester's cycling centre to be crowned the fastest toddler on two

They are racing on balance bikes, so they have wheels but no stabilisers

or pedals. It is the latest craze in the thinking that I can cycling

He has not even started his first year at school yet, but by the time

he does, Alex could be a British I get my bike, and then let's go.

His balance bike is his pride and He got it just after Christmas.

Before that we just rented one from the cycling centre. Since then it

He does not so much read it as a fly it around the cycling centre's BMX

Why do you like your balance bike? Because it is fast! How long have

The bikes have no pedals but no stabilisers, you have your wheels

but your feet on the other point of contact. They started to scoot

along, gradually get their balance and it proves —— it has been proven

to get their balance sooner than Alex has competed in every single

qualification event around the country, every time finishing in the

This Sunday he will compete in the balance bike Championships here

This Sunday he will compete in the Manchester and is hoping to get

through to the world finals in What will happen in the final? I am

I don't think Niobe is unnatural. I am the fastest toddler on two

We are very pleased to see you. I am the fastest toddler on two

will find out at the end of the sports bulletin why all the Wigan

fans, the management, the players, all now referred to Richard as

I should not be allowed out of the heartlessly tell you all about it,

but before that some proper sports news. Great news from Trent ——

county cricket were like Esher have been crowned champions of division

two. Ironically they were helped over the line by the weather, which

heavily affected their game at Gloucestershire and that of their

only title rivals, Northamptonshire. Both matches ended in draws which

means Lancashire can't be caught at Congratulations to everyone at

St Helens' Super League season is on the line tonight when they make

St Helens' Super League season is on trip to reigning champions Leeds in

the play offs. A win will move them to within one game of the grand

final, but defeat means their season is over. They will take heart from

this match, their last trip to Headingley in May when they won

30—22. There will be full commentary from 8pm on BBC Radio Merseyside.

The Wigan Athletic manager Owen Coyle has described the efforts

The Wigan Athletic manager Owen his team as outstanding in their

European debut in Belgium last goalless draw against Zulte—Varahem

in Bruges in their opening match in the Europa league. Nearly 3,000

in Bruges in their opening match in were there to see the club make

That is what I have thought about since I have been knee—high, I never

dreamt we would be in Europe and to be here is just... It is just a

Watching Wigan athletic from ten years old, this is like a Dreams

Some fans have seen the club go years old, this is like a Dreams

the smallest of shoots. Like Harold who reported on Wigan in their

It is not long ago when a trip to Europe was a trip up the hill to

qualify for the FA Cup. To be here after winning the FA Cup — what

qualify for the FA Cup. To be here can you be asked? —— what more can

You get the feeling that for a lot of fans it is only when they get to

the ground it all starts to feel real. What they need now is a good

performance and a victory. As it European tie was not exactly a

classic, but it was a performance full of character against a team

top division last season. James McArthur's cracking shot struck

top division last season. James post early on, but increasingly

top division last season. James had to defend their own goal, and

defend it they did. Chris McCann's last—ditch block summing up the

determination to leave with at least All credit, 2500 fans, coming in the

driving rain and they were behind Even though there were no goals

driving rain and they were behind cheer, it is a dear —— it is a day

to cheer for every Wigan fan who was weekend's big footballing event

to cheer for every Wigan fan who was it's the first Manchester derby

to cheer for every Wigan fan who was the season at The Etihad Stadium.

Both managers will be making their derby debuts and both insist they're

very important to women, it is one of the most important teams. ——

very important to women, it is one We try to win the Champions League,

It is what happens come the end We try to win the Champions League,

the season, how many points you We try to win the Champions League,

two see who is top. These points could be really important to watch

depending, so we will go there and There will be full commentary on the

match on Sunday. Kick—off is at There will be full commentary on the

rivalry, United and city are rivals off it, as well, not least when

rivalry, United and city are rivals comes to signing top players. The

latest is a Cheshire schoolgirl comes to signing top players. The

despite training with City, instead chose to sign for United, the team

Now remember him? And him? Course you do — both went from United to

City. As a youngster he went from City to United. Which is similar to

her — 12—year—old Olivia Dixon's impressing at City keeper Joe Hart's

We went on a school trip there with the girl's —— Erols' football team

and we got to meet him afterwards, and I have ever met anyone like

and we got to meet him afterwards, Even that was not enough to convince

The whole family supports Manchester United and as well as there being a

good team, I have to support my Both sides are now competing for the

best talent in football and that rivalry goes down to under 15 's

There are a lot of girls here who are City fans, so the rivalry is a

bit of butter, but our goal is for the girls to play football, as I am

Even the kitchen colour screen —— She started messing around in the

garden with her brother and to hear she is now at a club that all of my

family support, it could not be If she had joined Manchester City,

represent team GB at the Olympics. Her immediate dream — Manchester

Tough decision, that. Now, passport. Where have you gone for 48 hours?

How did you cost so much trouble? exaggerated, I am normally very

organised, as you know, but to cut a long story short, I had been out

filming. I was thinking, this is going well, we were staying in the

same hotel as some of the Wigan athletic staff and some fans. I

tapped the inside of my jacket and my passport was not there. We ended

athletic staff made calls to the consulate trying to get me home

The Foreign Secretary was on the Not quite, but fans were looking for

it in the city centre. Maybe not quite. Then, finally, they said

it in the city centre. Maybe not could get me home without a passport

and I looked under a bag and... Richard would like to apologise

and I looked under a bag and... The worst thing was, the fans were

on the same flight, so they did Next tonight, a sentence I never

expected to read on North West Tonight — could alien life forms be

living in the skies above Cheshire according to a research team at

living in the skies above Cheshire University of Sheffield, is very

possibly, yes. Stuart Flinders crossed the final frontier — or

possibly, yes. Stuart Flinders Pennines as we call them — to find

It's a question we've been asking since mankind first appeared. Is

Yorkshire, in outer space. But a team from Yorkshire thinks it has

the answer. A balloon carried a collecting tray from Ellesmere Port

journeyed across the Pennines to matter. The researchers say it is a

basic form of life from outer space. If we are correct, this is a game

changer, a completely new take on biology. All of the textbooks will

have to be rewritten. It means that Earth is an open system, it is not

restricted, it does not have a greenhouse cover on it, it is open

to the stars and there is like coming in. This contributes to life

on Earth. —— there is life coming You say this biological entity is

probably dead but may still be alive. Should we be concerned?

Most of our viewers can relax. These are not aliens in the true sense,

Except that they had been raining down from space from the beginning

of life on Earth. They are not alien scientists dismiss this work. All

aspects of science are dismissed at some point. Let me tell you the

information. I have actually said, if anyone around the world wants me

to come and give a talk on this if anyone around the world wants me

major institution, I will go there More tests are planned for later

Fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, the weather we have been having

Fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, probably going to wash away all

Fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, probable, which tends to be what I

Yes, good evening, we are still talking about warm weather coming

towards us through the weekend. talking about warm weather coming

have this continental air coming towards us all through the weekend

and hanging around for Monday. It is difference. This is how it looks

outside our window now, clouds have rolled then in the past couple of

Here it comes from the Irish Sea, pushing everywhere as the night

Here it comes from the Irish Sea, on. There may be a couple breaks for

predominantly cloudy picture first Temperatures, I think eight or nine

in rural areas and towns are cities, ten to 12 Celsius. Most places are

fairly grey and overcast when you get up, we have this weather system

to content with. There is not much, but it will provide some spots of

rain, by Sunday it should be gone, more chance of sunshine on Sunday.

First thing on Saturday it is very grey and overcast and for a time the

weather front could bring some spots touching the ground in many places.

Past lunchtime the cloud cover gradually starts to thin and it

Past lunchtime the cloud cover possible in many places the sun

Past lunchtime the cloud cover come out after lunch and brighter

skies work their way north. The come out after lunch and brighter

air and sunshine means temperatures could rise nicely, you could even

see a 21. I think Sony could be could rise nicely, you could even

brighter picture with brighter skies, a small chance of some spots

of drizzle around the Pennines, skies, a small chance of some spots

the picture through the weekend skies, a small chance of some spots

not bad. It could hold to Monday, as well, but after that I think things

will start to change. A warm spell over the weekend, keep your fingers

Remember last night we were talking about the conkers that fall from the

sky and the scheme at the car park in Manchester letting motorists

sky and the scheme at the car park for their parking? Today they have

scheme. 1500 conkers worth 20p each have been used to pay for £300 worth

of parking fees, so obviously a have been used to pay for £300 worth

of people have been hunting for conkers. He has just been hunting

Have a lovely weekend. Good night.