23/01/2017 North West Tonight

Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and Roger Johnson.

Our top story: Tories on tour - Theresa May's Cabinet

visits Cheshire, claiming the Northern Powerhouse

We'll be assessing the significance of today's trip.

Also tonight: A new future for Blackpool's Winter Gardens -

a ?21 million investment to bring the big conferences

A milestone for Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral

And in sport, we'll celebrate Britain's best Alpine result for 35

years thanks to Lancashire skier Dave Ryding.

We'll be looking back at Wayne Rooney's record-breaking weekend.

With misfiring Trident missiles in the headlines,

this might not have been the best day for Theresa May

But today the PM did just that, travelling up to Warrington

to reveal her big industrial plan for the country.

So will it deliver the goods or, like the missile, land

Well, let's ask our political editor Nina Warhurst,

Bring us up to date. The Prime Minister chose this big science and

innovation campus near Warrington to launch her big industrial strategy.

Lots of companies collaborate on innovation, technology here, and

that's something she wants to see more of. The idea is that the

Government gives more support to businesses, it intervenes to help

them grow and is asking them to work together more and collaborate and

feedback on what they need and she didn't just come here alone to

launch a strategy, she brought her entire cabinet to this building to

prove she means business. The Prime Minister, the Foreign

Secretary and the Chancellor. My question is, is this very public

visit to the North West more than a gesture? Investment that will bring

jobs as part of our industrial strategy, ensuring the economy is

working across the whole country and that we are seeing investment

leading to a higher wage, higher productivity, higher skills. What is

new to do that will translate to jobs for the North West? The

investment that has been put into the northwest will translate into

jobs for families but the industrial strategy we are launching today and

that will be consulting with businesses on because we want to

ensure we get it right, it's about the long-term. A few miles north,

the Burns brothers have been making filters for more than 30 years.

They'd like to see less talk and more cash. It's more hot air. I

think investing in the legs of ourselves, manufacturing, is the way

to go, not sharing it with other people but investing in the people

that are doing good manufacturing at the moment. by coming to the North

West to launch a big industrial strategy, the Prime Minister was

making a statement. She was saying, I don't just kill about the South

East, I care about you and your communities, -- I don't just care

about the South East. But on the other end of Warrington she might

have had a different reception. Does nothing for people in the teens or

early 20s you, nor Penta ships. With people that are working, they're

just taking more money off them is tax credits have gone down. There's

no trade or anything unless you work in a shop or a tip. Labour have been

quick to criticise the new industrial strategy, asking how can

be key jobs for the next education while slashing education funds? --

can we create jobs? We had a rehash of the local funding formula for

schools and in Salford we are looking at losing ?309 per pupil.

This was a short and public visit from a Prime Minister known for

playing a long and private game. It might be a while before we see what

impact the long-term industrial strategy has here.

I did push the Prime Minister unemployment figures because they

are 0.5% higher than the national average in the South West. She

wouldn't promise it would bridge the gap but what I found interesting is

that she mentioned the Northern Powerhouse five times. When she

first took office there was a real reluctance to use that phrase, so

associated it is with George Osborne and David Cameron, but today she

talked about it a lot, she has faith that will bring jobs to the region.

We thought it was dead in the water. The Northern Powerhouse tonight

appears to be alive and well. As Nina mentioned, today's raft

of announcements included more details on where ?300 million

Northern Powerhouse money will be There's investment in skills

training and transport, a new advanced manufacturing centre

in Lancashire and ?10 million There's also ?21 million to money to

revamp Blackpool's Winter Gardens, part of bid to bring the big

conferences back to the resort. If these Walls could talk, what a

tail they'd tell. -- tale. Education, education, education. For

decades, Blackpool's Winter Gardens hosted the major political parties

for their annual conferences. We may get rescued the future. Here, the

top politicians of the they would enjoy their party's biggest party of

the year but eventually the politicians fell out of love with

Blackpool. It was just a sign of The Times, people had better facilities

to offer and this is why it's so key that we do build a new conference

centre in Blackpool because we'd love to welcome them back. This is

how Blackpool hopes to woo them back, a ?25 million revamp of the

Winter Gardens to create a conference centre fit for the

21st-century. Today, the Government announced it will be putting up ?50

million towards the project through its growth steel project. -- growth

deal. It will bring style and I hope it will make people and Blackpool

feel that little bit better about their town. Utah the smart new

conference centre but with the rest of the resort be up to scratch --

you've got to the smart new conference centre, but with the rest

of it to be up to scratch with the 21st century? Yes, some hotels are

extremely good but we are building a new one as part of the tramway

interchange. It is a gentle man interested in building one right

next to the conference centre. they seem to be as confident as they can

be that by the end of 2019 this car park will be part of the revitalised

Winter Gardens complex and it will host a 4-star conference hotel. The

question nobody can answer for sure will be if that will be enough to

bring big party conferences back to the resort.

A man - whose 20-year-old son was shot dead in a Greater Manchester

takeaway nine years ago - is supporting a campaign to raise

Halton McCollin died as he ran from a gunman in Stretford in 2008.

His killer has never been caught, despite a ?50,000

For every weapon removed off the streets is a possible life-saver

or some devastation saved a family from going through.

You should be able to walk wherever you please without the fear

of someone having a gun that's going to shoot you.

Meanwhile, police say a huge convoy of vehicles through Liverpool last

night was an "extensive disruption plan" targeting those

Police were seen in the city centre, Aigburth and Speke.

Labour's candidate to be the first Metro Mayor

of the Liverpool City Region has launched his campaign.

Walton MP Steve Rotheram has pledged to improve

apprenticeships for young people, reduce the cost of the Mersey tunnel

tolls for local residents, and work with Liverpool's elected

Mayor Joe Anderson to gain more devolved powers from the Government.

The important thing now is for us six districts and the metro mayor

to be going to Westminster to wrestle those additional powers

that really mean we can do great things for the people

Steve Rotheram is one of four candidates announced

for the May election, alongside Conservative Tony

Caldeira, Liberal Democrat Carl Cashman and Tom Crone of the Green

Ukip haven't announced a candidate as yet.

At the moment, terminations there are only allowed under

That means many women travel to the UK to pay

Some want the law brought into line with the mainland,

but others don't agree, as Jacey Normand reports.

In Britain, abortion is legal to 24 weeks.

On the Isle of Man, terminations are restricted unless the pregnancy

risks posing grave and permanent injury to the woman's

The number of official abortions on the island is usually

Anyone wishing to access the procedure therefore would either

have to travel to Britain or order tablets online, an offence which

Since April last year, a group of Manx women have been

We're aware there are 479 women in the last five years who have

travelled across the UK, so that's around 98 per year,

who are travelling, and those are just the ones know about.

Just before the elections in September, another group formed,

who represent the life of the unborn child.

We've got to balance the right of the woman to life and health

and the right of the baby to life and health and, in my view,

you cannot say that the baby is not a human being.

Both camps have been vocal and are hoping to influence

the Government during the course of this Parliament.

Does it concern you that in terms of women who can't afford to travel

to the UK to have terminations, that they may be ordering

That is a concern and that is something we are working with and UK

authorities and Customs and Excise to bring in legislation quickly

It's also a criminal offence - if those tablets are intercepted

by the Royal Mail, that person could go to jail.

Technically, I suppose they could do.

And you can see more on that story on Inside Out North West

Still to come on North West Tonight: Shutting its doors on 350

years of history - are the tills about to stop ringing

And another Rooney record as wine becomes

United's top scorer - a former striker

This summer, Liverpool's Catholic Cathedral celebrates

Paddy's Wigwam, as it s affectionately known,

was consecrated at Whitsuntide in 1967.

The cathedral authorities are planning a series of events

Our Merseyside Reporter, Andy Gill, looks back at its history.

It's an unmistakeable part of the Liverpool skyline,

as modern-looking now as it was half a century ago.

It's still in living memory for many people, 50 years, and it's a great

occasion to celebrate with people's memories and in a sense, because of

the nature of this building and its modernity, it's nice to remind

people that actually it's now 50 years and it's a lovely milestone I

think. Once the design was approved, it

took less than five years to build. The Metropolitan Cathedral was open

for public worship. The Prime Minister Harold Wilson

and a host of cardinals and archbishops were at

the consecration in 1967. She's 92 and still a

regular worshipper here. I can remember the Scouts lining the

route up to the ramp. It was all done in five years. 1962 to 1967, it

was a wonderful experience that we at last had our own mother church

for the North of England. In the 1930s there were plans

for a huge cathedral here. They got as far as building

the crypt designed But after World War Two, costs meant

a cheaper design was needed. For many though today's cathedral

is just as imposing. I love it, I adored it. I think it's

the glass more than anything, the atmosphere, the deep blue glass. I

once spent a day here from dawn to dusk just to watch the effects of

the lake through all the different windows.

It's needed extensive repairs over the years.

But is part of the city's fabric now.

In its 50 years, this cathedral like its Anglican counterpart of the road

has become a focus for the city for good times and bad. There was a mass

for the victims of the Hillsborough disaster here the day after it

happened. Over the next months

there are special masses, flower shows and concerts

to mark the jubilee. We'll have more in the build-up to

its golden jubilee later in the year.

We'll be talking about record-breaker Wayne Rooney shortly,

but first up is success on the slopes for the

You can see how steep that hill is, he not only looks cool but an

amazing achievement. Yes, we're not exactly known

for winning in the Alps, are we? But Lancashire's Dave Ryding

pulled out the performance Dave, who's from Bretherton

near Leyland, is a slalom skiier and in Kitzbuhel in Austria

yesterday, one of the premium world Dave finished a fantastic second

to shock the rest of the field. The first time in 35 years a British

skier has done that. And as I found out today he's

made people who know him back here in the North

west extremely proud... From the Lancashire Foothills to

glory in the Alps, Dave Ryding was clearly emotional at achieving his

first podium finish. This is what he said to BBC Radio. It's just crazy.

Just really proud of what I've achieved. What the whole team has

achieved, we're not a big team, my coach, my and man and me and they do

the work of eight guys so I'm very grateful to them. Dave's

achievements is extraordinary, it's just the second time in male British

Alpine skier has finished in the top three. This famously was the last,

when Conrad shocked the downhill world with silver in 1981. But for

Dave Ryding's family it's all about their boy and when I met his

grandparents today, they were bursting with pride. We're thrilled

to bits. We've followed David for 23 years from when he was a little tot

to where he is at now. When you knew he had got second place and was on

the podium, how did you feel? You going to make me burst into tears!

It was phenomenal. Having watched him as a child and seeing him now

with what he has just achieved has been coming this year but suddenly

he's arrived. This is where Dave learned to ski as a youngster,

Pendle ski club near Clitheroe. He still has many friends at the club.

I was very surprised. I know how well he has been skiing but to think

he made the podium any world-class field was fantastic. Dave will now

have his sights set on a medal at the championships and the Winter

Olympic Games in South Korea next year and after his results of the

weekend, the man they call the Rocket will believe anything is

possible. Wayne Rooney added another

goal-scoring record to his already impressive portfolio at the weekend,

his late equaliser at Stoke making him Manchester United's

all-time record goal-scorer. Goal number 250 for the club means

he eclipses Sir Bobby Charlton's record and it took Wayne 200

fewer games to do it. Well, to reflect on the achievement

I'm joined by another former United frontman,

Andy Ritchie. This is the goal that took into the

record. It's extremely impressive. Fantastic, he is breaking records

left, right and centre and he's a very proud man after scoring that

goal and he didn't really get to celebrate because he wanted to get

everybody back. Sir Bobby was there as well. Sir Bobby scored some

fantastic goals. It took the a few more games to get there, though. How

do you compare the two? You've got to compare Wayne with the best,

cause he's done it. Sir Bobby was probably more of a midfield player.

Wayne has probably played upfront most of his career. He's a fantastic

player and I wish him all the best because I think it's been a

fantastic achievement. 250 goals, 546 appearances, 758 for Sir Bobby,

but he has captured the heart of Manchester United fans. Did you

think Wayne Rooney has done the same? I certainly think he has. I

think he should go down as an all-time legend as a Manchester

United player. He's been out slowly fantastic for the football club --

absolutely fantastic. He's looked up to buy the rest of the players.

You've got to say he's an all-time legend. Thank you very much indeed.

Burnley are still smarting after a controversial penalty cost

them a valuable point away at Arsenal yesterday.

The Clarets levelled at 1-1 in injury time

through Andre Gray's penalty, but the home side were awarded

a spot kick of their own when Mee clashed with Koscielny,

Sanchez converted to win the match for Arsenal at the death.

We know how tough it is, this division, but we need officials

to make the right decisions and that is the real shame of today

- to lose a game in that fashion and an offside not given

Everton midfielder Gerard has joined EC Milan on loan until the end of

the season. -- AC. Fleetwood moved up to fourth in

league one. Sale Sharks fans finally

had something to smile about at the weekend

as the Steve Diamond's side They'd actually lost their last 16

games in Europe until this late penalty From AJ MacGinty secured

a 25-23 success over Scarlets This time last week

we were reflecting on the retirement of swim star Fran Halsall,

today it's the turn of her Team GB team mate Keri-Anne Payne who's

bowing out of the sport. The 29-year-old Olympic silver

medallist from Rochdale was also Keri-Anne says she still hopes

to inspire others to share her love Congratulations to Southport golfer

Tommy Fleetwood who won the Abu Dhabi championship yesterday. He

beat Dustin Johnson. It's his first European tour title in more than

three years. Andy Ritchie met him recently. He said he was a nice guy.

It was like you and your Big Brother sitting there!

A corner shop in the Lancashire village of Chipping first

opened its doors when Charles the Second was on the throne.

It's still in business, but for how long?

Yes, the country's oldest shop could be about to shut its doors

It's up for sale and, it seems, no one want to take it over.

For almost 350 years, Brabin's shop has been at the heart

of the Ribble Valley village of chipping but possibly

Roy Pinkett bought the business in 2014, but his wife Sharon

is suffering ill health and so they put it up for sale.

We've probably had a dozen people showing a bit of interest.

The furthest one came from Kent to view it,

but nothing's positive from it, no offers or anything.

Brabins is, by some accounts, the longest trading shop

in the country, having been a butchers, bakers and undertakers

If a buyer isn't found by the end of February,

If we don't find a buyer we'll have to close the doors.

John Brabin was a wealthy cloth merchant in Chipping in the 1600s.

Upon his death, his will instructed the creation of a Brabins Trust

They still manage almshouses and give out educational bursaries

I just wish the trust had more supporters.

The mobile post office opens up at Brabins twice a week

and would have to find a new home if it closes, and of course it

would mean the loss of another feature of village life.

We've been here 53 years, we've been there for sweets

and newspapers and groceries and my mum and dad

Longridge is a far way to go so it's a shame.

Chipping itself is getting bigger with houses so it's probably

The business comes with a home, outhouses, land and even animals.

There is still time for potential buyers to save the doors

from closing on this slice of Lancashire heritage.

It could be a great opportunity. The trust say they're working hard and

hopeful of finding someone to take it on. Let's get a look at the

weather now. It wasn't the best of starts today.

Many places were great, misty and murky for a huge portion of the day.

The sun came out in some places in the afternoon and that will be the

pattern again tomorrow. We have eight Met Office warning for four,

the lowest level, yellow. It could turn up anywhere and could be dense.

The first few days of the beaker chilly. By Thursday, we are really

in the cold air, but after that we are back in milder conditions so as

we speak, 12 showers across the region this afternoon hardly

dampening the ground, but the big story is visibility, the mist and

fog warning really an issue tomorrow morning for drivers and it might

affect airports. Away from that, some blue on the chart. Temperatures

will be fairly low from zero to two Celsius. Whenever you are, two

Celsius is not very good. The sun rises at 6:08am, we're getting

around 50 more minutes of sunlight in a week. -- 15. As the morning

goes on, brighter skies should come through the mist and fog and by the

afternoon is not a bad picture. The Isle of Man have cloud and rain and

soda Cumbria, pushing into Lancashire, but most people see an

improvement. It will still feel cold.

Well, it is January! Will be back with more news and weather at

10:30pm. Insight Out is on at 7:30pm here. Good night.