:00:00. > :00:00.general election to be held on June eight. And that is
:00:07. > :00:09.Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson.
:00:10. > :00:13.50 days and counting to a snap General Election -
:00:14. > :00:15.the North West is the key political battle ground.
:00:16. > :00:18.We'll have reaction from throughout the region.
:00:19. > :00:23.Anthony Grainger's friend tells a court they were not
:00:24. > :00:27.about to commit an armed robbery when police shot him dead.
:00:28. > :00:29.Calls for a rethink over HS2, amid claims ancient woodlands could
:00:30. > :00:40.We meet the world's best player, who's helping
:00:41. > :01:01.For the third time in two years, we're about to face a major
:01:02. > :01:03.vote which will shape the region's future.
:01:04. > :01:06.June's impending General Election follows a similar vote in 2015
:01:07. > :01:09.The northwest is the key battle ground, with more marginal
:01:10. > :01:14.So what does it all mean for the region's MPs
:01:15. > :01:16.and what are the implications for our exit from
:01:17. > :01:18.We'll be hearing from Westminster shortly.
:01:19. > :01:25.But first here's our political editor Nina Warhurst with more.
:01:26. > :01:28.The Prime Minister calling an election to carry
:01:29. > :01:32.through her Brexit plan rather than wait until it's over.
:01:33. > :01:34.There are 72 constituencies in the northwest, and the northwest
:01:35. > :01:38.There are five seats where there are less
:01:39. > :01:49.I've been to Chester - Labour's closest marginal in the country.
:01:50. > :01:59.Chester doesn't churn out the same old results. It swings. In 2015 to
:02:00. > :02:06.Labour Party, who won games by 93 votes. Constituency don't have
:02:07. > :02:12.lifelong loyalty to a party, but this time his mind is made up.
:02:13. > :02:17.Theresa May. Why? Because besides Jeremy Corbyn has some very
:02:18. > :02:21.admirable qualities, we need someone strong enough and has the
:02:22. > :02:29.wherewithal to carry us forward in these challenging times. So you
:02:30. > :02:34.think she can deliver a good Brexit? Yes, I do. Wade could the Jeremy
:02:35. > :02:40.Corbyn factor frustrate MPs across the Northwest? Not according to the
:02:41. > :02:45.chest and MP. I would like to think I have a reputation for treating my
:02:46. > :02:49.constituents with respect. I have a good record. The Conservatives have
:02:50. > :02:53.a shocking record in Chester. Chester's population is socially
:02:54. > :02:57.diverse. Live outside the city centre and there are pockets of
:02:58. > :03:02.poverty and deprivation. Beyond that are the rolling hills of Cheshire,
:03:03. > :03:10.housing millionaires, and it is that mixed demographics that makes it...
:03:11. > :03:29.Whoever wins the seats in This is Cheadle, along with Hazel
:03:30. > :03:32.Grove swinging from Lib Dem too conservative in 2015. But they sit
:03:33. > :03:39.in Stockport, a borough but chose to remain in the EU. Theresa May has
:03:40. > :03:45.come down on a hard Brexit, we feel that is ruinous for the country, not
:03:46. > :03:50.what people voted for. It gives us the opportunity to say to Theresa
:03:51. > :03:52.May, you are going down the wrong route here, we need to do things
:03:53. > :03:59.differently. Wade but it can cut both ways. Clifford thinks the Prime
:04:00. > :04:04.Minister has a great, and she's getting his vote. I think she has a
:04:05. > :04:08.lot of good things to say, and at the moment she doesn't have
:04:09. > :04:13.opposition. But Ukip believes this election could go their way. After
:04:14. > :04:20.all, 53% of referendum voters in the Northwest wants to leave the EU. The
:04:21. > :04:25.North West voted to leave last year. 17.4 million people across the UK
:04:26. > :04:31.voted to be. The only party they can trust to deliver Brexit, whether it
:04:32. > :04:34.is in government or by putting pressure on the government, is Ukip.
:04:35. > :04:39.If you live in Cheshire, Cheadle or most parts of the Northwest, the
:04:40. > :04:43.coming for you and your votes. The clock is ticking. So, that was
:04:44. > :04:44.Chester, Labour's tightest constituency in the country. And
:04:45. > :04:48.here are the others. In 2015 the Conservatives
:04:49. > :04:52.held on to Bury North And remember the surprise
:04:53. > :04:56.when Esther McVey lost her Wirral West seat
:04:57. > :05:02.to the Labour Party, that went against the
:05:03. > :05:03.national picture and Labour held on to Barrow and Furness
:05:04. > :05:08.but lost 5% of their vote. And Bolton West was one of the seats
:05:09. > :05:15.where the Conservatives pinched a seat from Labour,
:05:16. > :05:18.but only by 801 votes. Those were the marginals in a year
:05:19. > :05:21.when the Liberal Democrats weren't performing well,
:05:22. > :05:23.and Brexit hadn't happened. It's likely there will be
:05:24. > :05:25.more seats this time Now, some of you have been in touch
:05:26. > :05:29.with some other politics questions. Are we going ahead with
:05:30. > :05:31.the mayoral elections, As we understand it,
:05:32. > :05:35.the mayoral elections will still be Manchester City Council
:05:36. > :05:55.will announce their decision In Cheshire, the Tories have a
:05:56. > :05:58.majority of 800 over Labour. Earlier I spoke to the MP Graham Evans, and
:05:59. > :06:07.asked him whether this was a U-turn by the Prime Minister, who said last
:06:08. > :06:12.month there would be no slap snap election. We have to react to
:06:13. > :06:20.changes. We need -- now slap election. Brexit needs a stable
:06:21. > :06:25.government, and the country is unified with Brexit, but Parliament
:06:26. > :06:27.isn't. If you look at what is going on with the Liberal Democrats, who
:06:28. > :06:31.said they are going to put obstacles in the way all along with our
:06:32. > :06:33.negotiation with Europe. Labour is all over the place and the Scottish
:06:34. > :06:38.Nationalists are threatening to break up the United Kingdom, so it
:06:39. > :06:44.is right for us to go to the country and give them the mandate. The right
:06:45. > :06:51.thing to do is to vote for Theresa May and the Conservatives. Are you
:06:52. > :06:54.worried that Remainers who are still unhappy about losing out on the
:06:55. > :06:59.referendum will now take it out on the Conservatives at the ballot box?
:07:00. > :07:03.That is a good question. The Liberal Democrats are making at their job to
:07:04. > :07:07.do that. They want to undermine the government's case, the negotiation
:07:08. > :07:12.with European friends, thorough Brexit that is good for Europe. Also
:07:13. > :07:17.key is a good Brexit for a global Britain which can go forth into the
:07:18. > :07:22.world and secure a future, a long-term future. We have to make
:07:23. > :07:25.those long-term decisions, therefore we need to negotiate with the
:07:26. > :07:28.backing of parliament. We do not have that at the moment, with those
:07:29. > :07:39.negotiations. It is still a risky move. Are you concerned, you have a
:07:40. > :07:41.small majority of just around 800? Thank you for reminding me, it is
:07:42. > :07:55.806, those six votes are very important! It is it is in the
:07:56. > :07:59.national interest, the Democrats, Labour Party in the SNP are trying
:08:00. > :08:03.to undermine us at every move we make. But do you think that this
:08:04. > :08:08.region in particular is ready for another election? We have had the
:08:09. > :08:10.general election, the referendum, we have got mayoral elections in
:08:11. > :08:16.Manchester and Liverpool, and this is well. There is a risk of election
:08:17. > :08:19.fatigue? Well, we live in a democracy and you do not expect
:08:20. > :08:24.governments to act without the consent of the people, so yes, I
:08:25. > :08:28.hear what you're saying, but at the end of the day we need the mandate
:08:29. > :08:32.from the people. If you want is to negotiate the best possible Brexit
:08:33. > :08:38.deal from Europe, then we need this mandate, so we need to have a
:08:39. > :08:42.general election so we have a strong and secure mandate from the British
:08:43. > :08:48.people. The Weaver Vale MP. We will return to the general
:08:49. > :08:52.election before the end of the programme.
:08:53. > :08:54.The funeral has been held of a four-year-old girl,
:08:55. > :08:56.who died after being knocked down in St Helens.
:08:57. > :08:58.Violet-Grace Youens was killed and her grandmother seriously
:08:59. > :09:01.injured, when they were struck by a car on Prescot Road last month.
:09:02. > :09:04.Family and friends attending the funeral wore the colour violet
:09:05. > :09:08.A 90-year-old man from Waterfoot in Lancashire is still missing,
:09:09. > :09:12.after going sailing off the Welsh coast at the weekend.
:09:13. > :09:15.Arthur Roy Taylor was last seen near Cardigan on Saturday morning.
:09:16. > :09:19.Police are appealing for anyone who may have photographs or video
:09:20. > :09:30.footage of the area on Saturday to contact them.
:09:31. > :09:32.Two unexploded World War II mortar bombs have been
:09:33. > :09:36.They were discovered on a remote track in the Sartfell
:09:37. > :09:39.The site is being guarded by the Civil Defence.
:09:40. > :09:43.An army bomb disposal team is due to travel to the island later this
:09:44. > :09:57.A man who was with Anthony Grainger when police shot him has told
:09:58. > :09:59.the Inquiry into what happened they were not there to carry
:10:00. > :10:03.A public inquiry is trying to establish the circumstances
:10:04. > :10:06.around the death of Mr Grainger who was shot dead in a car park
:10:07. > :10:08.in Cheshire during an operation by Greater Manchester Police.
:10:09. > :10:10.This from our social affairs correspondent Clare Fallon.
:10:11. > :10:15.Over the last few weeks we have heard many versions of how this man
:10:16. > :10:21.died. Today, at the enquiry into Anthony Grainger's death, we heard
:10:22. > :10:26.this man's version. David Totten was in the same car, sitting next to
:10:27. > :10:30.Anthony Grainger when police opened fire. Asked about why they were in
:10:31. > :10:37.the car park at night in March 2012, with balaclavas on their heads, he
:10:38. > :10:42.insisted the police theory was wrong, who said they were there to
:10:43. > :10:48.carry out a robbery. He was asked about his history. In 2006 he was
:10:49. > :10:53.the intended target of a shooting at a pub in Salford. He was injured but
:10:54. > :10:58.survived. The gunmen themselves were shot dead. Given his evidence, David
:10:59. > :11:01.Totten was quietly spoken, often asked to repeat himself or speak
:11:02. > :11:05.more loudly. He told the enquiry he had been friends with Anthony
:11:06. > :11:09.Grainger since they were children. Asked about the evening when his
:11:10. > :11:15.friend was shot, he said they were in a stolen car together parked. He
:11:16. > :11:20.described another car screeching in. He said as it stopped, or before it
:11:21. > :11:25.stopped, I heard a bang, feeling shards of glass in my face. He was
:11:26. > :11:29.asked by the lawyer for the Grainger family, before the shards of glass,
:11:30. > :11:33.did you raise your hand so they were visible? The answer was no. Did
:11:34. > :11:39.anybody shout show me your hands before the shards of glass? No. At
:11:40. > :11:42.odds of the evidence of the police officer who officer who shot, who
:11:43. > :11:45.insists he shouted a warning and says he was convinced Anthony
:11:46. > :11:52.Grainger was reaching for a weapon when he fired. In fact, Anthony
:11:53. > :11:55.Grainger was unarmed. The enquiry continues.
:11:56. > :11:58.Some of the northwest's most beautiful ancient woodlands could be
:11:59. > :12:00.wrecked by the HS2 high speed rail line.
:12:01. > :12:02.That's according to the Woodland Trust, which is calling
:12:03. > :12:05.for a rethink on the route which will link the West Midlands
:12:06. > :12:12.Here's our Chief Reporter, Dave Guest.
:12:13. > :12:17.It's an oasis of rural tranquillity that's bordered by a housing
:12:18. > :12:26.This is officially classed as ancient woodland.
:12:27. > :12:32.We know this is ancient woodland because it has been on the maps in
:12:33. > :12:41.1600 A.D., so for more than 400 years. Anything particular about the
:12:42. > :12:46.plants and wildlife? Yes, you get some ancient species. Here is wild
:12:47. > :12:51.garlic and bluebell, which only found in ancient woodland. It is
:12:52. > :12:56.important to preserve this because ancient woodland is irreplaceable.
:12:57. > :13:00.It cannot be recreated. The tranquillity of this place could be
:13:01. > :13:01.shattered with news that the HS2 high-speed rail link may cut across
:13:02. > :13:04.the western fringes. This is one of five northwest
:13:05. > :13:13.ancient woodlands which could be We only have 2% of the ancient
:13:14. > :13:16.woodland left in the UK, so even a small losses very significant.
:13:17. > :13:18.The possibility of HS2 passing through here has
:13:19. > :13:27.That has been there since I was a child. I used to play in it, the
:13:28. > :13:31.kids play in it. I don't think it is right. You go forward with
:13:32. > :13:35.technology and look to the future. The woodland is lovely, but at the
:13:36. > :13:41.end of the day you have got to move with the times. HS2 Ltd see theirs
:13:42. > :13:43.is the most environmentally responsible major infrastructure
:13:44. > :13:45.project the UK has ever seen. They say they are doing their best to
:13:46. > :14:04.avoid ancient woodland wherever possible, and if that proves to be
:14:05. > :14:07.impossible they will do their best to replace any trees that are lost.
:14:08. > :14:08.Even though they will plant trees, you cannot recreate ancient
:14:09. > :14:11.woodland, so they can plant thousands of trees but we will not
:14:12. > :14:13.be able to replace this unique habitat. HS2 said there are
:14:14. > :14:15.continuing to engage with the Woodland Trust, and no final
:14:16. > :14:17.decisions about writs have been taken. -- no final decisions about
:14:18. > :14:21.the route has been taken. Stuart Pollitt joins us now
:14:22. > :14:23.with a look at the sport, and plenty of Football League
:14:24. > :14:25.permutations to discuss Yes, no ups or downs confirmed yet,
:14:26. > :14:29.but it's that time of the season when fans are checking tables,
:14:30. > :14:32.looking at the fixtures. We'll start in The Championship,
:14:33. > :14:35.where Sam Gallagher's towering header earned Blackburn a draw
:14:36. > :14:37.against Bristol City. A win would have lifted Rovers out
:14:38. > :14:40.of the relegation zone. With three games to go,
:14:41. > :14:42.their place in the Championship remains precarious,
:14:43. > :14:44.still a point from safety. Wigan meanwhile need
:14:45. > :14:48.a football miracle to survive. In League One, there's
:14:49. > :14:51.crucial action tonight with promotion-chasing Bolton
:14:52. > :14:53.at home to relegation-threatened Full-match commentary
:14:54. > :14:59.on BBC Radio Manchester from 8pm. Results elsewhere yesterday
:15:00. > :15:01.prevented any Wanderers One of those results
:15:02. > :15:08.was at Fleetwood, where The Cod Army pulled off another huge win,
:15:09. > :15:10.1-0 over fellow promotion A look at the table shows
:15:11. > :15:13.Fleetwood are now just a point behind Bolton,
:15:14. > :15:15.but Wanderers do Both teams' remaining fixtures look
:15:16. > :15:23.favourable against struggling teams so this battle could go down
:15:24. > :15:26.to the wire. Things are tightening up
:15:27. > :15:28.in League two as well, where Blackpool moved
:15:29. > :15:31.into the play-off places yesterday. After missing one penalty,
:15:32. > :15:33.they were awarded another at already-promoted Doncaster
:15:34. > :15:35.in injury time, this That's the sort of good fortune
:15:36. > :15:42.you need at this stage. Accrington Stanley also remain
:15:43. > :15:45.in play-off contention after victory over Crawley made it
:15:46. > :15:49.15 games unbeaten. Stanley are one of nine teams
:15:50. > :15:52.who still have a chance of making Manchester City's women have made it
:15:53. > :16:01.through to a Wembley cup They beat Liverpool 1-0 yesterday
:16:02. > :16:05.in the FA Cup semi finals. Carli Lloyd was part
:16:06. > :16:07.of the City side. The American has signed a short-term
:16:08. > :16:10.deal with the club as she aims to help the Blues win five trophies
:16:11. > :16:13.in nine months. If you're not an expert
:16:14. > :16:15.in the women's game, then let me tell you,
:16:16. > :16:17.getting Carli over In the women's game,
:16:18. > :16:23.Carli Lloyd is as big as it gets. Scorer of a hat-trick
:16:24. > :16:27.in a World Cup final. And now, helping Manchester City
:16:28. > :16:31.to fight for trophies. This is a player not
:16:32. > :16:43.used to second best. What would represent an achievement
:16:44. > :16:47.for you? Winning everything. FA Cup, Champions League, Spring series, it
:16:48. > :16:51.is all they for the taking. I believe in the script, we have the
:16:52. > :16:59.players, and if we focus on us, we can get it done. Could this short
:17:00. > :17:03.spell here be repeated? I'm not sure. I'm really enjoying it, the
:17:04. > :17:08.facilities are world-class, the team, organisation, they have -- I
:17:09. > :17:11.have nothing to complain about. It has been fantastic.
:17:12. > :17:15.And her team-mates have enjoyed having Carli here.
:17:16. > :17:22.What is it she can bring that you can learn from? Winner mentality.
:17:23. > :17:25.She's very driven and I think she is very focused and spends most of her
:17:26. > :17:27.time at the grand. But Carli has sampled some
:17:28. > :17:36.of Manchester's charms. I live in the city centre so it is
:17:37. > :17:42.great for me to pop out of my place and go and walk around the city. Do
:17:43. > :17:45.you get time to yourself here? I do, but there are avid football fans who
:17:46. > :17:50.spot you, but they are very respectful still.
:17:51. > :17:57.spot you, but they are very respectful There is just one area of
:17:58. > :18:00.life causing Carli trouble. Driving! Everything is opposite, the opposite
:18:01. > :18:04.side of the road, the steering wheel, so I'm often getting in on
:18:05. > :18:09.the left side, forgetting it is on the right side, but I'm getting used
:18:10. > :18:10.to it. Football is the same, luckily! Young exactly, the same
:18:11. > :18:12.game. And this born winner's hoping
:18:13. > :18:17.for the same results she's used to. And City are next in action
:18:18. > :18:19.in the semi-finals of the Champions League
:18:20. > :18:22.against Lyon on Saturday. Finally from me, Super League,
:18:23. > :18:24.and a blow for Wigan Warriors who look to have lost Jake Shorrocks
:18:25. > :18:28.for the season with a knee injury On the field, St Helens kick
:18:29. > :18:32.started their season yesterday with an eye-catching win
:18:33. > :18:34.over in-form Castleford. A 20-point burst in the first half
:18:35. > :18:50.helped Saints to a 26-22 success. So the football season will be all
:18:51. > :18:56.over by the 8th of June, just to be sure?
:18:57. > :19:03.Yes, in terms of club football. I cannot do all these permutations,
:19:04. > :19:10.will they go up, will they go down? Hopefully someone who knows a little
:19:11. > :19:14.more about all of this, here is our political editor. As you mentioned,
:19:15. > :19:20.this region, the Northwest, Ruby is going to play a pivotal role in the
:19:21. > :19:24.general election because of the number of marginal seats. Yes, it is
:19:25. > :19:26.always pivotal. You always see the Prime Minister and Leader of the
:19:27. > :19:31.Opposition campaigning in the North West because of the swing seats.
:19:32. > :19:36.Chester has swung back and forth several times since 1997. There are
:19:37. > :19:40.93 votes in that. Also because party loyalty is not as it once was. If
:19:41. > :19:46.you are a traditional conservative but want to stay in the single
:19:47. > :19:49.market, make due have your head turned by the Liberal Democrats? Or
:19:50. > :19:52.if you are Liberal Democrat, but you are in tune with the Labour Party,
:19:53. > :19:56.your vote could go that way. On top of that we are seeing more people
:19:57. > :20:03.registering for the Green Party. Ukip say they will campaign
:20:04. > :20:05.heartier. Some people say there is a election malaise because of the
:20:06. > :20:09.mayoral vote is going on, but lots of people I spoke to feel very fired
:20:10. > :20:14.up about politics at the moment. We could see turnout all up. To be
:20:15. > :20:20.clear, you mentioned people registering for the Green Party. No
:20:21. > :20:24.one should ever read into what your wedding! I did not know when I left
:20:25. > :20:29.the house that this was going to happen! Yes, Theresa May should have
:20:30. > :20:33.run you in advance to get your address sorted out! We will be
:20:34. > :20:39.talking more about politics in the next 50 days. Almost as much as we
:20:40. > :20:47.speak about the weather. It has been nice today. Easter
:20:48. > :20:50.weekend was not great. Today was very nice. Most places saw some good
:20:51. > :20:56.spells of sunshine. It started off cold and frosty, but our weather
:20:57. > :21:02.watchers have captured the weather across the north-west. The cloud has
:21:03. > :21:06.started to build, leading us into a cloudy night and eight. Looking at
:21:07. > :21:08.the week ahead we have high pressure, which will benefit the
:21:09. > :21:13.more southern parts of the country more than us. If you're looking for
:21:14. > :21:18.rain, and some people are, from time to time we will see some sprinkles
:21:19. > :21:22.but not more than that. Over this evening and overnight, at the minute
:21:23. > :21:26.it is quite a bit of cloud cover around. I think it will come and go
:21:27. > :21:31.as the night goes on. It will not be a blanket of cloud cover, but last
:21:32. > :21:37.night was chilly with some frost in a few places. Tonight the
:21:38. > :21:39.temperatures are better, with a better wind direction bringing
:21:40. > :21:42.mildly, so the role not be frost tomorrow morning. You will be
:21:43. > :21:48.unlucky enough to see some rain in the Isle of Man and Cumbria. In the
:21:49. > :21:52.early hours of this morning it will start to work its way in. For most
:21:53. > :21:57.of us they've is cloud cover, and it is a very quiet and eight. No frost
:21:58. > :22:01.tonight, we're talking about six or 7 degrees. Then be going to
:22:02. > :22:05.tomorrow, and if you're really unlucky, spots of drizzle and
:22:06. > :22:11.training. For most of us it is a quiet picture, much cloudier than we
:22:12. > :22:20.saw today. What you see outside your window just now will be
:22:21. > :22:23.representative of tomorrow. For the most part a lot of the rain will be
:22:24. > :22:28.in the Irish Sea. I am afraid the Isle of Man has the poorest weather
:22:29. > :22:34.across the region, but from time to time it might dry up. The rain is
:22:35. > :22:38.not massive. The breezes coming from the south and eventually from the
:22:39. > :22:42.West, but less than ten miles an hour for most of us. Tomorrow, the
:22:43. > :22:49.temperatures without any sunshine will be similar than today, 11 or 12
:22:50. > :22:52.degrees. Tomorrow night it is very mild indeed, eight and nine. A few
:22:53. > :22:56.sprinkles of rain, and the outlook for the next couple of days, it is
:22:57. > :23:06.relatively quiet, with quite a bit of cloud cover.
:23:07. > :23:12.Those of you who enjoy a Tuesday evening, this is a special mate.
:23:13. > :23:20.I will have the late news, but it may be on a little later with a
:23:21. > :23:28.north-west mayoral debate on BBC One, around 11pm tonight.
:23:29. > :23:29.I hope you get some supper at some point!
:23:30. > :23:35.You could bring me something in!