20/02/2014 North West Tonight

forces and protestors. That is all from BBC News. It is goodbye from

me. A teenager from Manchester is

reported missing in Syria, a week after it's revealed his friend was

killed there. The British authorities are urging

young people not to go. Also in the programme ` as church leaders sign

up to a letter highlighting food poverty in Britain, we talk to the

local MP tasked with tackling the issue. I'm outside the offices of

Lancashire County Council web they are waiting on a variety of cuts.

And it's full steam ahead on a ten`year labour of love to restore

this classic ship. A teenager from Manchester is

missing in Syria. Mohammed Azzam Javeed's family have heard nothing

since he set out for the war ravaged country last autumn. One of his

friends from Manchester has already been killed fighting for the rebels

out there. The British authorities and community leaders are urging

young people not to go. But still they do, so why? It's a question our

chief reporter Dave Guest has been exploring.

The harrowing images emerging from Syria have shocked many around the

world. But for some, looking on from outside isn't enough. They feel the

need to get involved. Mohammed Azzam Javeed was one of them. The

19`year`old was raised in Levenshulme, Manchester, and

educated locally. He planned to go to university. Then last autumn he

changed his mind and headed out to Syria. His reasons aren't clear `

was he planning to fight along side the rebels, or offer humanitarian

aid? We don't know. We do know, however, that his father runs a

restaurant in Manchester. His dad told our colleagues on the BBC Asian

Network that they've heard nothing since he went to Syria. This is

another Manchester man who made the journey, but never returned. Anil

Khalil Raoufi was killed fighting for the rebels. He and Mr Javeed

were friends. So what motivates young men such as these to set out

to Syria? I think there are two categories. Firstly, they could be

affiliates of groups out there. Some would see it as a wider cause to

fight the Syrian government. The groups they are likely to join out

there are affiliates of Al`Qaeda leader.

Indeed, anyone returning to the UK from Syria at present is likely to

be intercepted as they land back on British soil. Greater Manchester's

Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy, who also leads on counter`terrorism for

the Association of Chief Police Officers, recently explained why.#

And while details of Mohammed Azzam Javeed have only now become public

the police have known about him for some time.

People who have come back may be radicalised. People coming back will

be stopped at the border and maybe arrested. His house in Levenshulme

was searched by counter`terrorism officers in December. His

whereabouts remain unknown. The Bishop of Manchester is one of

27 bishops who have written a letter condemning the Government's welfare

reforms which they say have forced people into food and fuel poverty.

In an open letter Bishop David Walker and others say too many

people are having to choose between heating or eating as a result of

cutbacks and failures in the benefit system. But the government says it's

about getting the country back on it's feet. Kirkholt in Rochdale is

one of the poorest communities in the North West. For many the gift

hurdle is getting a job. I sent off up to 20 CDs every day. It is really

hard around hair. You could get a job for a couple of weeks and then

they let you go. As well as handing out the food parcels, destructing

centre has seen more people coming through the doors with financial

problems. We have seen an increase in depression and stress and

domestic violence cases. Today in a letter to the government senior

members of the clergy said they are losing faith in welfare reform. We

have mothers deciding who goes without a meal on any particular

day. We have not been in a situation like this for a long time and that

is why we have two speak out. From the houses of Commons to the streets

of Kirkholt, the big welfare debate divides opinion. Surviving on

benefits means it is not possible for people to put a bit of money

away each week for a rainy day. It has been too easy for years for

people to live on benefits. The government says that the reforms are

about helping people stand on their own two feet and not become trapped

in a cycle of dependency. Joining me now is the Labour MP for

Birkenhead Frank Field. He is chair of an all`party parliamentary group

on hunger and food poverty, which has just announced an inquiry into

food poverty. What do you think about this letter from the religious

leaders. Do you agree with it? I think it is good religious leaders

involve themselves in highly important matters in society. But if

they do, they have two way by the political roles and will be treated

as politicians. `` they have two play. I agree with the issues they

have raised and the manner they have phrased it in. The new Cardinal of

Westminster have intervened as well. It is a warning shot to the

government to take this situation seriously. I have been trying for

over a year to get the Prime Minister to set up and independent

enquiry that will try to distinguish between our food banks being

something transitory or whether there is something deeper going on.

He has refused. You mentioned it there. We have run reports over a

year ago on food banks. Why has it taken MPs so long to catch up? It is

really hard to shift the government. When I wrote to the

Prime Minister I said it is this immediate issue about the numbers

who have two use food banks, but it is not unique to this country. If

you look at the United States, Canada, Germany, France, the same

thing is happening. If the same thing happening to all our economies

in the western world? I then presented him with data showing that

but the first time since Victorian times the upper portion of family

income that is spent on food is rising. Also, families are having to

spend more money on fuel and rents. That is a cost of living crisis for

all of our, but it is a disaster for the poor and that is what we want to

look at `` all of us. Thank you for joining us. I am afraid we have run

out of time. The mother of Dale Cregan, the man

who killed two Greater Manchester Police Officers, has apologised for

her son's actions. Anita Cregan spoke outside Manchester Crown Court

after being cleared by a jury of trying to get secret information

during the manhunt for her son. Kathryn Smith, a police call handler

and her then boyfriend, who grew up with Cregan, were also cleared. But

Kathryn Smith has been dismissed from her job.

People living close to a mill building in Dukinfield have been

told they will have to spend the night in alternative accommodation.

New Mill off Park Road was damaged in the high winds last week. Now

part of the roof has collapsed and building inspectors say it must be

demolished. Some people are staying with relatives while others are

being given hotel accommodation Coming back from being out this

morning, I have been told we might be evacuated because the mill behind

us is unsafe. We have been told to stay with family or friends. It is

something that we just don't need at the moment.

Plans are being put on show tonight for a ?350 million factory in South

Cumbria where it's hoped hundreds of jobs will be created.

GlaxoSmithKline has had a base in Ulverston since 1948, but the

biopharmaceutical facility will be the company's first new UK factory

for almost 40 years. Scotland is considering it, but should be north

of England be pushing for more independence? A pressure group is

saying that if the north of the border gets its own way, this part

of the country could become unforgotten.

Scotland has its parliament, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own

assemblies, so does London. England is represented at Westminster, but

does the North of England need it own political representation.

Accrington's MP wants to campaign for a better deal. The big cities of

the North could make better decisions on things like transport.

There needs to be this weight of influence from the North that

influences that decision`making basis. Some of his constituents

agree. . We are pushed to one side at times. We are not very well

represented in the south of England. Maybe the people on it would enjoy

it, but that's about it. The dream of a regional assembly has gone up

in smoke... It is almost a decade since the North East rejected a

regional assembly. One Cheshire MP says it's about resources and not

power. We macro spending is lower than other regions. That needs to be

addressed. Whilst there is a push to give people more power in the North,

not much is actually being done It is not a coherent group of people

identity. It is difficult to get things done, even if people are

geographically near each other. How the UK is over and is constantly

evolving, but major evolution to the north is yet to flash on the

constitutional radar. I've be talking to Paul Salveson

from the Hannah Mitchell Foundation who campaign for devolution in the

North. I asked him what he wanted. We want the North to have the rest

`` the same as the rest of the country. Where would the Parliament

be and how would it be paid for We want something that would have real

resources. It will be paid for out of taxation. We don't want to spend

more on an extra tier of bureaucracy. It could be wasting

lots of different places. That does not have to be one headquarters

There are obvious places like York and Manchester, but it is a side

issue. The issue is what sort of powers and resources it would have

and what it would do. A Northern Parliament could transformational

across the North as a whole. It would reverse this begging bowl

mentality that we have seen over the years. This has been talked about

before. In the north`east they overwhelmingly voted against a

regional assembly. Is there support for this? That is. That was ten

years ago. What was on the table at the time was a glorified County

Council, so you can understand why it was rejected in the North East.

There has been a lot of water under the bridge in the last ten years and

we have seen the success of devolution in Scotland and Wales. No

one is saying they want to go back, they are saying they want more

powers, so let us make a start in the North of England. There is a

huge powerhouse of ideas here that has not achieved its full potential.

Councillors in Lancashire have tonight announced to cut key

services and increased council tax to save around ?3 million over the

next few years. They've agreed a programme that could see atleast

2,500 jobs lost. Our reporter Yunus Mulla is outside County Hall.

This is what they have been looking at today. 417 pages long. One

councillor remarked that if you manage to read all of this `` if you

managed to read this then you need to get a life. However, there are

lots of issues involved. The cuts will have an impact over the next

few years. I have the deputy leader with me. Some of the things talked

about an agreed will affect the most vulnerable, there is no doubt about

that. How can you deal with that? We have tried to find savings where the

front is not affect it. Over 50 of the cuts do not affect the front

line. What about one`to`one services and people with learning

difficulties, as an example? We spent a long time consulting people

and the budget went through the support of other parties. You are

going to increase council tax. People will not be happy about that.

They won't, but we have a lot of people to look after. The government

grant will be be juiced in the coming years and we have to be sure

that we can continue to run our services. It is not unreasonable to

ask people to pay a little bit more. You met some of the Unison members

earlier today. 2500 council jobs could be lost. That creates

uncertainty. Why talk about it now? The staff are happy that we have

announced it now. They know where they are, and also the voluntary but

under the package is available from now until the end of March 2016 I

have to stop you there because we have run out of time. There is a lot

more to be discussed and we will have all the latest information for

you as it comes in. It's known as the brain drain `

talented youngsters leaving the region for jobs in London. But a new

scheme is aiming to entice Cumbria's best young brains to consider a

career in the county. The Dream Placement programme's been created

by the Centre for Leadership Performance. 16 to 18`year`olds were

put through a rigorous selection process before being selected.

Alison Freeman went to meet some of them.

Looking for a future in industry. Robin is one of Cumbria's rightist

brains who is being encouraged to think about the Korea in her home

county. She is taking part in the Dream Placement scheme which shows

teenagers what it is like to work at a high level in top companies.

Yesterday I went to research and development which really took my

interest because I've quite like discovering things. It sounds a

relic, but that is my dream, I think. It has just occurred to me

now. The point of this scheme is to let young people know there are good

jobs to be had in industry in West Cumbria and if they choose to stay,

they could be part of the international market. This company

is a leading paper manufacturer but finds it hard to get the brightest

talent through the doors. The top students want to go to the top

universities and it is hard to get them back. Schemes like this are

opening their eyes. There are massive opportunities with

international companies across West Cumbria. The dream placement links

future bright young things with job opportunities. The scheme is now

looking for more young people to take part next year.

Freestyle skiers Rowan Cheshire and Emma Lonsdale had trained and

prepared together. For both women it was supposed to be a first Olympic

Games. The dream ended for Rowan from Alsager when she was knocked

unconscious in a training crash earlier this week, but she recovered

to cheer Emma on this afternoon in what turned out to be her final

ride. They come from opposite ends of the

region but Kendal's Emma Lonsdale and Cheshire's Rowan Cheshire were

due to team up in today's half pipe skiing. The half pipe, performing

tricks up a wall of ice the height of a petrol station roof, isn't for

the half hearted. Earlier this week Rowan was knocked unconscious in a

training accident. The injuries put the 18`year`old out of the games. I

couldn't remember anything. I just remember waking up in hospital. I

feel a lot to them I was. I am disappointed though. My head is

still not 100%. It is hard to explain, but I am getting there But

she was well enough to stand with Emma at the top of the slope.

Emma's clean yet conservative first run put her on the cusp of

qualifying for the final but she couldn't improve enough to make the

final. I was smiling. I have enjoyed every minute. I have definitely gone

that and I hope I have made Great Britain proud.

Emma learnt her skills at Kendal Snowsports Club. Seeing her in Sochi

has been amazing for members. I am immensely proud. She has not made

the final, but she is one of the top competitors in the world, and she

comes from Kendal, which is fantastic.

So with her Olympic dream fulfilled, Emma this evening announced her

retirement. The mantle passes to Rowan who will surely get her chance

in four years time. They did get to the Olympics and it is more than any

of us could do. Football now, and Barrow AFC is

talking to a locally born businessman about a takeover that

could transform the club. Paul Casson, who was born in the town but

based in the United States, has also confirmed that negotiations are

progressing. The club is currently in Non`League Football, two steps

down from the Football League. Barrow AFC is built on craft and not

alarm. It is forged from the school of hard knocks, but it could get a

make over. Dallas style. Barrow born millionaire Paul Casson says he

wants to use some of these hard cash to buy his hometown club, ?1 million

in all. The story that has been front`page news in the town. If he

went ahead, a sky with a lot of money, a true supporter, with the

club moving in the right direction, it could be massive for Barrow going

forward. The club declined our offer of an interview, but said:

I do think they would ensure the club with anyone if they did not

think they were the right people. Some fans will be suspicious, but

many Malcolm `` welcome the takeover. It will be great for the

town. Both sides have obstacles to negotiate. Paul Casson has two

convince the members that any takeover would be in the best

interests of the club and that everything is on by the book. It

does look increasingly likely that this club is about to enter a new

phase. The Daniel Adamson is 111`years`old,

and it's seen some action in its time. It's been used as a tug boat

on the Mersey, carried troops during the First World War and even played

host to royalty when it was converted into a gin palace on the

Manchester Ship Canal. Sadly the steamboat has now seen better days.

But a dedicated group of fans are hoping to win lottery money and see

her steaming along the ship canal once again.

She once looked like this but the Daniel Adamson now rest in Liverpool

dock wrapped in protective sheeting. She is on the official register

alongside the Cutty Sark, but no one has heard of her. She started off

from humble beginnings and was bought by the Manchester ship Canal.

The steamer even played host to royalty, here welcoming Prince

George of Denmark in 1949. I always remember the crew. We tied it up and

then it never sailed again. The art deco lounge has lost most of its

opulence, but the society hopes that with an injection of cash from the

National Lottery, the project could soon be full steam ahead. She will

be cruising, she will offer educational and outreach facilities

for children. We are all dependent on the ?3 million bid. We are

looking at competitive bids from various shipyards. It has taken ten

years of work by a team of dedicated interviews he asked to save her from

the scrapheap. We are hoping that with the help of the lottery people,

it will be up in steam towards the end of 2015. The society expects to

hear whether their application for funding has been successful later

this year. Let us now get a look at the weather.

It was a mixed day today. It got colder as we went through the

afternoon with temperatures dropping from 10 Celsius down to seven. Mild

weather will return on Sunday, but it will be wet and windy. If you

dodged the showers, you did very well. There wasn't decent spells of

sunshine around. `` there were. There are not too many showers in

the mix right now. Over the high ground they could be some sleet and

snow. Many places will have a lot of dry weather and some breaks in the

clouds cover. In oral areas, temperatures could drop as low as

three Celsius. There could be a touch of frost and ice on untreated

surfaces. Away from that, a similar day to the one we have today. Winds

gusting up to 45 mph. The air will be more unstable and there could

even be a rumble of thunder. Away from the showers there will be some

sunshine. Today in the sunshine what a difference it made.

Temperatures tomorrow probably around seven or eight degrees

Celsius. Saturday, you are showers and a better day of the weekend We

both like the idea of a floating gin palace. We could just pop out at

lunchtime! That is it from asked for now. Good

evening. `` from asked for now.