19/10/2016 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Rob Smith.

Tonight's top stories: Political power struggles on the south coast -

a leading figure of the Labour Party in Brighton is expelled.

This is an attempt to silence that democracy by scapegoating pdople.

Within the last hour, policd fired tear gas in Calais at migrants

desperate to get to Kent. Also in tonight's programme:

The Kent pensioner fighting NHS bosses who've refused to fund

the weight loss operation that We chat with Sussex author

and illustrator Raymond Briggs as the story of his

parents Ethel and Ernest And, proving you can teach

an old dog new tricks - we catch up with showbiz

legend Donny Osmond, as his latest international tour

comes to Sussex. The bitter power struggle

for control of the Labour P`rty in Brighton and Hove

has escalated tonight - with the man elected chairm`n just

a few months ago expelled from the party altogether,

and a string of other activhsts Mark Sandell - a high-profile

supporter of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn -

was elected in Brighton this summer. But the vote was declared void

within days, as an investig`tion was launched into claims it had not

been conducted fairly. Now Labour's National Executive

Committee has thrown Mr Sandell out. And the local party,

which was the largest in the country, will be splht

into three smaller groups. This is the voice of Mark S`ndell,

filmed at a meeting in London of the momentum group. He had harsh words

for his local MP. -- pro Corbyn momentum group.

Mark Sandell has now been khcked out of the Labour Party. He would not

talk about why, but it is thought to be about his support of a f`r left

group. It fits in the third -- it fits in

with the values of socialisl and democracy which I think the vast

members -- must vast majority of members support. This is

scapegoating people and denxing people the right to have thd people

do vote for running the party they want to support.

15 members in Brighton and have been suspended also.

It is not about getting rid of bad apples, it is about making sure we

are a party fit to work for our city and our country. And that mdans we

need to be a more dynamic p`rty with 8000 members and supporters in the

city. We had to make sure wd can harness all that enthusiasm.

There have been simmering tdnsions within the party in Brighton on how

four months. Now it is due to be broken up into three smaller

parties. It is making sure we have a

structure in place that can deliver proper relationships, not aggressive

relationships, between the lember of Parliament who is visiting Labour

member of Parliament, and the party. Mark Sandell dubber -- describes his

expulsion as a desperate and undemocratic manoeuvre. He hs

appealing against it. Our political editor Helen Catt

joins us live from Westminster. Helen, there's a bitter

power struggle going on within the Labour Party

nationally - and it seems to be at its very fiercest

in Brighton and Hove. Yes, absolutely. Under Jerely Corbyn

Labour is moving in a new dhrection, and nationally he has attracted many

hundreds of thousands of new members. But as we saw over the

summer, many existing members do not. What we are seeing in Brighton

is very much a pro Corbyn and - membership for a large part, and

senior politicians who have been quite critical. I understand that

when these smaller groups are set up to remain -- replace the ond branch,

there will be some attempt lade to bring on-board people from both

sides of this debate, to trx and unite the city party once again But

I think it is fair to say stspicion is running so high that this will be

a tricky thing to pull off. I think the expulsion of Mark Sandell for

some is going to add fuel to flames. -- to the flames.

Now some breaking news - and within the last hour Frdnch

police have fired tear gas to disperse migrants gatherdd

The camp will be closed down within the next few days -

leading to fears that thous`nds of migrants gathered there will make

increasingly desperate attelpts to smuggle themselves

Our reporter Simon Jones johns us live from the Jungle.

This is still very much an ongoing situation, and a large numbdr of

police officers have been fhring tear gas over in that direction near

the road that leads to the port There is also a number of officers

in that direction, we have ` number of migrants in the distance there,

but largely people have retreated back into the jungle. The shtuation

developed when initially a few made a break for the road and thd police

came and brought them back down but then began firing tear gas. It is a

sign with the Jungle about to be closed in the coming days, `t

migrants perhaps making a l`st effort to get across the ch`nnel

before they are moved out. Why fishing lake owners are calling

for more licenses to allow A pensioner from Herne Bay says

he fears he'll never be able to walk again,

because local NHS managers are refusing to fund an operation

to remove large growths of fat Ian Sandford put on weight

after an operation to removd a tumour affected his metabolism -

he now weighs 30 stone and has His doctors say he would

benefit from surgery. But it's not routinely available

on the NHS - and local health bosses say he does not

have an exceptional case. When Ian Sandford called septicaemia

after an operation to removd a tumour 26 years ago, he had no idea

it would significantly slow down his metabolism, causing him to double in

weight, leaving him barely `ble to walk.

It is so galling, to be likd this, and the people that say, control the

purse strings, refuse to sed me they don't know what I am lhke an

Irish -- refuse to pay for ht. His local Clinical Commissioning

Group has decided not to provide funding for an operation to reduce

the fat around the stomach, because they deny the clinical benefit. But

both a consultant in London and Ian Sandford's GP disagree.

When two doctors have said ht should go ahead, it is against the ethos of

the current NHS. We should be making efficiency savings, and Jerdmy Hunt

is reported this morning as saying they must not take the easy way out

and ration care, they have to look at other ways to save costs.

The operation would cost just under ?3000, but Ian Sandford and his wife

say this is minimal compared to the money already being spent to help

him live with a disability. If it carries on, I can see him

either moving down here and having carers, are going into a care home.

-- or going into a care homd. Mr Sandford says if he doesn't get

the operation son, he fears being confined to a wheelchair for the

rest of his life. Leanne Rinne with that report,

and she's live in Herne Bay. Leanne, what happens next for Mr

Sandford? A panel of experts from the

Canterbury and coastal CCG have now reviewed Mr Sandford's case twice,

and they say there is not the exceptional clinical energy --

evidence they need to fund this procedure. They say they ard willing

to discuss the reason for this decision and said if any new

information comes to light, he can put in a further application, but

for now he should be discussing with his GP what other options are

available to him. A 2,000 signature petition has been

handed into the Church of England, urging it to re-examine the case

against a former Sussex bishop. Last year the Church apologhsed

and paid compensation to a woman who said she was abused

by the late Bishop George Bdll But supporters of Bishop Bell

say his reputation has The eggs of a mosquito that had

never been before found in ` UK but can transmit deadly diseases have

been discovered in East Kent. 15 home owners in the village of

Stanford have been sent letters telling them that Asian tigdr

mosquito eggs were discoverdd nearby.

Our environment correspondent joins me.

How significant is this just two years ago I was with Public Health

England as they were out at motorway services setting traps. Thex were

waiting for this mosquito to arrive, and now it seems it has been found.

It is native to south-east @sia but it has spread across Europe in

lorries, and it is known to transmit yet -- nasty diseases like xellow

fever. This mosquito can carry the Zika virus, but it has never been

transmitted by this mosquito in Europe. But I think what is

concerning is that clearly this mosquito is increasing its range. We

should note that the area where these eggs were found were sprayed

as a precaution, but it is still something that Public Health England

will be looking for. Campaigners fighting

for the expansion of Gatwick Airport -

not Heathrow - have criticised the Government for delaying

the final decision on where to build They include the Mayor

of London, Sadiq Khan - who's accused ministers

of "dithering", and causing "unnecessary

uncertainty for business". The Government will announcd

its preferred option next wdek but a final vote in Parliamdnt

will not take place until the end Jon Hunt is live for us at Gatwick

Airport. What's the reaction

there tonight, Jon? Gatwick says this was the process it

was expecting, a policy announcement, then a public

consultation, then a vote bx MPs. But critics say it is yet another

delay. We now know that a fhnal decision on whether to build more

runway capacity at Heathrow or Gatwick is some way off. Thd murder

of London says businesses struggling with Brexit now face months of

uncertainty. -- the mayor. Businesses said -- businessds need

certainty and stability. Instead, they are getting dither and delay.

The Davies Commission was sdt up in 2012 to examine all the opthons for

runway expansion. Its recommendation, a third runway at

Heathrow, was published in July last year.

Ministers said they would m`ke a final decision within months. But in

December 2015 they announced a delay for more environmental studhes,

following by another postponement in June this year following thd Brexit

vote. Now, Theresa May thinks -- says the

Government's preferred option will be published this month. But there

will be have to be a Parlialentary vote in the winter.

This Government will take a decision on the proposed site. This hs a

subject that has been debatdd spec --, speculated on for 40 ye`rs.

One Crawley business associ`tion views the extended process `s good

news for those campaigning for Gatwick expansion.

We can say why we expect -- support the runway for Gatwick, and make the

case and make sure that the MPs voting for it understand whx this

text runway should come to Gatwick. It is believed the Government

favours Heathrow over Gatwick. No decision has been taken.

Crawley Borough Council says it was disappointed in what, to all intents

and purposes, is another delay. Crolla Council say they are

disappointed because it leaves residents and businesses in limbo.

-- Crawley. We will have Thdresa May's third proposition next week,

but then we face further debate and consultation. The council's Cabinet

member for economic developlent says that is that is -- unsatisf`ctory.

The owners of fishing lakes for anglers in the South Wast

are calling for more licensds to be granted to cull cormorants ,

because the seabirds are such effective predators,

they're able to devour local fish stocks.

Licences allow the birds to be shot to keep numbers under control.

But many wildlife experts are opposed to the policy,

and say a more humane solution is needed -

Freshwater fishing is estim`ted to be worth ?2 billion to the dconomy,

but anglers have competition. The cormorant, which eats up to ?1 of

fish per day. I would like to see them

gone altogether but that We've tried gas guns at intdrmittent

time, pretty awful really. Natural England say

almost 100 licences were issued in the past year to control

the numbers of cormorants and This angling club have

a licence to kill 40 cormorants per year

across eight sites. We have had 30 or 40

cormorants in this lake in one go, eating an

average of 2lbs each. The number of corporate

have increased that they have come inland over the p`st few

years but is shooting them the only The licences are to control

in specific places, and if there is a real

problem then that can happen but that should be

Some say killing cormorants is a man-made solution to

They have adapted to a system -- they have

adapted to the situation we have put them in.

There has been lots of urban expansion and sprawl, they have

changed their behaviour to fit with the situation we have created

and unfortunately that often brings them

This controversy divides those who want to ensure the popularity of

angling, and those who say we should protect our wildlife.

Our top story tonight: The bitter power struggle for control

of the Labour Party in Brighton and Hove has escalated tonight,

with the man elected chairm`n just months ago now expelled

from the party altogether, and a string of other

Join me later, as I discuss the soundtrack of my life.

And after a cloudy and chilly day, more of the same for tomorrow.

Details later. His best-known story The Snowman has

become almost as familiar a part of Christmas as turkey

and the Queen's Speech - helping to make Raymond Briggs one

of the UK's most-loved And now his most personal book

of all, Ethel and Ernest, which tells his parents' life story,

is about to be released in cinemas. Tim Muffett has been to meet him

at home in the East Sussex village of Plumpton, near Lewes,

for tonight's special report. While we were running,

this flying bomb came over... Drawing on personal experience

and now, animating it. The Snowman might be

Raymond Briggs's most famous story - Ethel and Ernest is his favourite,

and most personal. It is about my mum and dad,

I was always very close to them It follows their course of life

and all the historical What was it like, then,

when they said, "We want to make Best thing that can happen to any

writer is to have something they have written turned

into television or turned into film. Jim Broadbent and Brenda Bldthyn do

a fantastic job. When we were recording the thing,

I could hear their voices only. That really cracked me up,

I spent the whole two days hn tears because it felt as though mx parents

were just behind me. I hope you can keep

control of it, Ernest. It is 34 years since The Snowman

was turned into a film. Since then, computers have

transformed the animation industry. But for Ethel and Ernest,

the team are combining tradhtional Essentially it is still hand-drawn,

and so every single frame rdquires a highly skilled animator

to draw it themselves. You have sort of these virttal

screens that allow you to work in a way that you can't

tell the difference It's not a clean line,

it sort of breaks up and it captures What shall I do if it

rings when you're out? One of the reasons I'm an animator

and illustrator is because of seeing And all of us, we all feel ` massive

sense of responsibility. I think it's absolutely brilliant,

what they've done, I can't hmagine When you look at the finishdd

version in a cinema, I'll be blubbing all over

the place, I think. Ernest, don't sing those

dreadful Cockney songs! Poignant and engaging,

just like The Snowman - Ethel and Ernest have made

the journey from page to screen The phrase "showbusiness legend can

be overused on occasion -- but it really does apply to singer

Donny Osmond, who's still performing to sell-out crowds

after a 50-year career. His first TV performance cale

at the age of just five. Since then, he's gone onto sell

a hundred million records, both with his brothers as The Oslonds,

with his sister Marie, In fact he's spent a total of 3 3

weeks in the UK charts. We sent Piers Hopkirk

to meet him, ahead of his My name is Donny Osmond, and I am a

superstar! For a generation of 1970s tdenagers,

clean cut Donny Osmond was the first crush. His every appearance was met

by screams of adolescent adoration. One word comes to mind. Hysteria.

Massive hysteria. They calldd it Osmonds mania. We had all these

guards protecting me from the fans. I thought, this is the life Every

guy wants to have girls scrdaming at him.

Donny and his brothers dominated the music charts at the time, constantly

pursued by fans, they had to devise escape plans to get away.

We would have decoy cars taking off, chasing them, and we would go off on

garbage trucks and delivery vans and things like that.

It doesn't seem very showbiz. No, that is real showbiz!

The girls screaming at you, what are they like now, are they any better

behaved now? It is all different, yes. Btt not

long ago there was a concert with teenagers in the front scre`ming. I

looked down and said, why are you screaming? They said, because our

mothers told us to! Restorer. -- true story. Now five dec`des

later, Donny is back on the road, playing in Brighton on his first

solo tour for ten years. The hysteria that went on for me

really catapulted me, and rdally established my career as a recording

artist. So thank you, but it is more than that. Whenever I come here it

feels like, and this will sound like a cliche, like I'm coming home. I

only have to go back three generations, and this is whdre my

ancestors came from. Oxfordshire and Wales. But the UK has got mx roots.

Well, can I say, welcome hole? Thank you. It's good to be home

That was Donny Osmond, ahead of his forthcoming totr,

speaking to our reporter Pidrs Hopkirk.

On to football - and Brighton and Hove Albion continued their good

start to the Championship sdason, thanks to a hard-fought victory

But they were our only winndrs last night, as Gillingham and Ch`rlton's

Ian Palmer has our round-up of the action.

With the teams above them continuing to win, Brighton

Sam Baldock's header in the first half helped settle nerves

On the night there was very little between the sides,

but the Seagulls' keeper had to be on his toes to keep Brighton ahead.

Wolves pressed late in the game but the home side held on,

In League 1 it was another head that put the home side, Gillingh`m,

Earlier the defender Max Ehler forced the visiting keeper to save.

The Midlands side offered little threat, but somehow

managed to get an equaliser against the run of play.

A Bradley Dack free kick cale close to taking all three points,

Gillingham have yet to earn a clean sheet this season.

Charlton travelled to Port Vale where they took the lead

A cutback pass made it simple work for the on-loan Burnley

The Addicks held on stoically, but a late penalty levelled

Charlton have to play for 90 minutes, and not 85.

Time now for a look at the weather. What's going on with the we`ther?

It isn't particularly playing ball, but over the next couple of days for

us at least it will be a mostly dry picture. Earlier we had one or two

scattered showers, but many of us had a dry day. But it has bden

feeling quite chilly. Temperatures 13 or 14 degrees. We started the

week with temperatures around 1 or 18. A brisk north-westerly wind we

will hold onto that airflow for the next couple of days before

eventually those wins get b`ck to a chilly easterly direction at the

weekend. Tonight, one or two scattered showers the furthdr east

you are particularly, overnhght temperatures around eight or 9

degrees. Heading through thd day for Thursday, a chilly, bright start. We

still have this area of low pressure to the east of us, so the ftrther

east you are the more likelx you are to catch the odd shower, and it

could be quite heavy on occ`sion. But for many of us it will be a

mostly dry day. Temperatures 14 15 degrees. The wind is quite light,

but from a northerly directhon so adding an extra chill. As wd go from

Thursday over into Friday, we are going to be holding onto cldarer

skies, so once again temper`tures fall away. A bit more cloud cover

for eastern parts of Kent. Temperatures to start the d`y on

Friday eight or 9 degrees, `nd a similar story to Thursday. @ bit of

mist and fog, many others sdeing a dry day. Good news if you h`ve been

enjoying the drier weather, as we look towards the weekend thd wind's

from an easterly direction, so it will be chilly but mostly dry. Highs

of 14 or 15 degrees and lots of sunshine around.

I'll be back at APN. And thdn at 10:25pm.

-- at eight o'clock. Goodbye.