:00:00. > :00:00.Hello, I'm Sally Taylor, welcome to South Today.
:00:00. > :00:09.Full steam ahead for June the 8th - but what does a General Election
:00:10. > :00:15.We'll be talking to voters in Reading, in Eastleigh and here in
:00:16. > :00:18.the Prime Minister's Maidenhead constituency.
:00:19. > :00:22.Will a snap election finally make her an elected Prime Minister?
:00:23. > :00:27.# We're going to Wembley, we're going to Wembley #!
:00:28. > :00:30.Blue heaven for Brighton and Portsmouth -
:00:31. > :00:34.promotion is the reward for the fans who refused to let their teams die.
:00:35. > :00:38.And the disappearing act of the coach company
:00:39. > :00:51.that's taken bookings but left customers disappointed.
:00:52. > :00:55.The news that took Westminster by surprise this morning
:00:56. > :00:57.has been rippling out across the South of England.
:00:58. > :01:00.We will be voting in a General Election on June the 8th.
:01:01. > :01:03.It's a chance for people to vote again on the issue of Brexit,
:01:04. > :01:05.which split the South as it split the country.
:01:06. > :01:07.And we face seven weeks of campaigning from MPs
:01:08. > :01:10.who want to keep their seats in southern constituencies,
:01:11. > :01:15.with a big role this time for the MP for Maidenhead, Theresa May.
:01:16. > :01:19.BBC South's political editor Peter Henley is in her home village
:01:20. > :01:34.Who saw this coming then? Not me! Not the commuters. It's the
:01:35. > :01:37.only talking point on the train is coming back to the Thames Valley
:01:38. > :01:40.today. This morning, they had no idea we'll going to have several
:01:41. > :01:46.weeks of campaigning for a general election. This is going to and Hans
:01:47. > :01:51.Theresa May's reputation as a daring risk taker, rather than the dull
:01:52. > :01:57.follower of procedure, the planner that people labelled higher at the
:01:58. > :02:01.Home Office. No sign of it in Easter over a year over the holiday, she
:02:02. > :02:06.came back and helped with they've than in Maidenhead. Even some MPs
:02:07. > :02:08.whose jobs are now on the goal line missed the announcement this
:02:09. > :02:10.morning. It looks like she took the whole country, as well as the
:02:11. > :02:12.locals, by surprise. The news that the PM has
:02:13. > :02:14.gone to the country. Despite fixed-term parliaments,
:02:15. > :02:16.we'll be voting on June the 8th And in the Prime Minister's
:02:17. > :02:19.constituency, I think, after the Brexit thing
:02:20. > :02:28.and she went straight into power, I think the people didn't
:02:29. > :02:32.have a chance to have their say. Just heard on the news,
:02:33. > :02:37.I was absolutely staggered. I can't, that she's called one,
:02:38. > :02:40.I can't really see the reason why. I mean, I know there's a lot
:02:41. > :02:43.going on and there's the question about Brexit,
:02:44. > :02:48.but I was ready quite astounded. The chair of local Conservatives
:02:49. > :02:51.here say the decision will give her a much stronger
:02:52. > :02:56.position to negotiate I just thought, well,
:02:57. > :03:02.it's got to be serious, because Prime Ministers don't make
:03:03. > :03:05.announcements from the steps Maidenhead is a safe Conservative
:03:06. > :03:12.seat, but other Berkshire MPs said it was worth going to the country
:03:13. > :03:14.to strengthen her It's very important to have that
:03:15. > :03:20.strong backing in Parliament to make sure that deals can't be turned down
:03:21. > :03:23.at the last minute, to make sure the Prime Minister's hand
:03:24. > :03:25.isn't forced at any stage She has to be in a strong
:03:26. > :03:42.position to make sure we get So is this element of surprise to
:03:43. > :03:47.Theresa May's advantage? Labour had been saying for some time
:03:48. > :03:52.they're on an election footing. But they haven't selected candidates in
:03:53. > :03:54.many seats. Even, as Benjamin name more reports now, in target seats.
:03:55. > :03:56.As all parties start to set out their stalls,
:03:57. > :03:59.Reading is an area labour might consider ripe for change.
:04:00. > :04:01.I just think Labour's in a mess, really.
:04:02. > :04:04.It's not going anywhere, unfortunately.
:04:05. > :04:06.When they called this Brexit thing, they didn't think
:04:07. > :04:12.That backfired on them, so you never know what's
:04:13. > :04:19.Things are so far gone now that it's really hard to get back from, innit?
:04:20. > :04:21.Labour runs the council here with a 3-1 majority.
:04:22. > :04:24.But it has a pressing issue if it wants to take seats
:04:25. > :04:29.Currently, neither constituency in Reading,
:04:30. > :04:34.That's because the local Labour Party said it wanted to wait
:04:35. > :04:38.for the new boundary changes to come into force before
:04:39. > :04:43.But that process could take eight weeks, which would take us past
:04:44. > :04:49.So they're now seeking advice from the national Labour Party.
:04:50. > :04:52.One man who casts a long shadow after 13 years as a Labour MP
:04:53. > :04:56.He says the Tories are taking a gamble.
:04:57. > :04:59.I detect no appetite out there on the streets of Reading
:05:00. > :05:02.or anywhere else in the South for a snap general election.
:05:03. > :05:05.We've just come through a very divisive referendum
:05:06. > :05:10.This is political opportunism of the worst sort by
:05:11. > :05:16.And I think it could come back to bite them.
:05:17. > :05:31.As long as the voters here believe Labour won't sell them out.
:05:32. > :05:38.Labour have welcomed the election nationally. Lovato at too, you say
:05:39. > :05:42.this is a chance to debate Brexit all over again. They say they are
:05:43. > :05:48.representing the 48% who voted to remain in the EU. We now report from
:05:49. > :05:50.Eastleigh, one of the few areas still to have a Lib Dem council, to
:05:51. > :06:04.see how the events are going down. This will be the ninth collection in
:06:05. > :06:07.just a few years here. The Conservatives have a majority of
:06:08. > :06:11.more than 9000 here, in what was traditionally a safe seat for the
:06:12. > :06:16.Lib Dems. As far as the referendum on the actors, it pretty much
:06:17. > :06:19.mirrors the national picture, with 52.5% people here voting to lead the
:06:20. > :06:22.EU. We have a big debate about whether
:06:23. > :06:27.we should be in the single market. That matters per jobs and investment
:06:28. > :06:30.in places like Eastleigh which has a strong manufacturing and service
:06:31. > :06:34.base. Those issues matter and will play into the campaign, that's why
:06:35. > :06:37.we need more global Democrats in Parliament fighting for the case a
:06:38. > :06:40.sensible future of this country. Do think it is good that the Lib
:06:41. > :06:46.Dems here? Potentially, could do well for them.
:06:47. > :06:51.Brexit, I'm not a fan of at all. You won't find any Danish bacon in
:06:52. > :06:58.this cafe. The consensus here is as BDO Brexit as possible.
:06:59. > :07:04.We've all decided as fast a exit as possible. Hopefully it will go that
:07:05. > :07:08.way and not go back at all. The Lib Dems may not have picked a
:07:09. > :07:13.candidate to contest the seat yet, Mike Gordon's said he would relish
:07:14. > :07:16.the chance to contest it. But they said they have a well oiled body
:07:17. > :07:23.machine here, and say they can contest despite the tight timetable.
:07:24. > :07:29.Seven weeks of campaigning, plus the local elections in May, are people
:07:30. > :07:32.ready for this? The local elections, those are
:07:33. > :07:36.important in the shire counties, which is our part of the world,
:07:37. > :07:42.particularly. They may be submerged, they may be a useful stroll on how
:07:43. > :07:46.opinion is changing. What we will get is clarity as parties and the
:07:47. > :07:50.other colours to the mast on Brexit. It can just mean a Brexit. The
:07:51. > :07:53.Conservatives will publish a manifesto, as will the other
:07:54. > :07:53.parties. It will be interesting to see.
:07:54. > :07:57.Onto other news, and Portsmouth and Brighton are in blue heaven
:07:58. > :07:59.today after their respective football teams both clinched
:08:00. > :08:03.For Brighton, it means elevation to the biggest league in the world,
:08:04. > :08:06.and you can see what it meant to their supporters.
:08:07. > :08:08.For Portsmouth, promotion may be only the first step back
:08:09. > :08:10.to the Premier League, but it was just
:08:11. > :08:15.And for both sets of supporters, it's a well-deserved
:08:16. > :08:17.reward for refusing to let their respective clubs die.
:08:18. > :08:20.Here's our sports editor, Tony Husband.
:08:21. > :08:24.Whether it was Sussex by the sea or the Pompey chimes,
:08:25. > :08:30.the fans were in good voice on this most magical of Mondays.
:08:31. > :08:34.At Brighton, they flocked onto the pitch at 5pm yesterday.
:08:35. > :08:35.Promotion was inevitable after their latest win
:08:36. > :08:40.But when near rivals Huddersfield only drew two hours later,
:08:41. > :08:57.# To the Premier League, we're on the way #!
:08:58. > :09:02.It's testament what the players have given and achieved all season.
:09:03. > :09:06.And also, at this stage of the season, to put the run together
:09:07. > :09:10.that we have, at this stage of the season, is very difficult.
:09:11. > :09:13.That's it, we're in the Premier League now, aren't we?
:09:14. > :09:15.# We are Premier League, we are Premier League #!
:09:16. > :09:18.20 years ago, Brighton stayed in the Football League
:09:19. > :09:23.The finance of owner Tony Bloom, the tenacity of their fans,
:09:24. > :09:29.Falmer was billed as the future, it's delivered.
:09:30. > :09:32.We struggled long and hard, I don't think we ever
:09:33. > :09:42.We've lost generations of fans along the way.
:09:43. > :09:44.A lot of tears were shed yesterday by supporters who had
:09:45. > :09:47.loved ones that hadn't seen the dream become reality.
:09:48. > :09:49.Brighton's resurgence is echoed along the coast.
:09:50. > :09:55.5000 Portsmouth fans celebrated League 2 promotion at Notts County.
:09:56. > :09:58.It means the road back from football oblivion has started for a club
:09:59. > :10:03.saved by its fans four years ago and almost bankrupt in 2010.
:10:04. > :10:15.What we've got to do eventually is remember that hard road.
:10:16. > :10:17.It has been a lot tougher than people thought.
:10:18. > :10:20.They thought, just going down to League 2, we'll bounce back up.
:10:21. > :10:23.They have learned over four years that football's not quite like that.
:10:24. > :10:25.Ironically, Portsmouth fans have a choice again,
:10:26. > :10:30.to accept or reject the investment of billionaire ex-Disney CEO
:10:31. > :10:33.Michael Eisner, who's offering to buy the club.
:10:34. > :10:36.Wherever the club goes now it will only be to the benefit
:10:37. > :10:42.It's owned today by the fans and the right people,
:10:43. > :10:45.and if they decide to hand it on to Mr Eisner, it will be
:10:46. > :10:48.with everyone's best wishes and it will Mr Eisner's job then
:10:49. > :10:51.Supporting a football club is a journey.
:10:52. > :10:59.Pompey and Albion fans are on the right road for now.
:11:00. > :11:01.Well, joining us are Paul Barber, chief executive of Brighton
:11:02. > :11:06.and Hove Albion, and the Portsmouth chairman, Iain McInnes.
:11:07. > :11:15.We start with you, Paul, how are you feeling? Graduations!
:11:16. > :11:20.Thank you very much. We certainly had a great day yesterday. A long
:11:21. > :11:24.night and a slightly fuzzy morning! OK, let's hope some clarity in this
:11:25. > :11:26.interview! How much regiment is getting to the Premier League for
:11:27. > :11:31.Brighton? As the report just said, 20 years
:11:32. > :11:35.ago, we needed a draw to stay in the Football League. To find ourselves
:11:36. > :11:38.heading to the Premier League next season is a wonderful achievement
:11:39. > :11:42.for so many at the club. We're delighted for the city, the staff,
:11:43. > :11:49.the players and coaches, and our owner, Tony Bloom, as well as the
:11:50. > :11:52.thousands of fans. We're delighted. We're looking ahead, but having got
:11:53. > :11:57.to the promised land, can you stay there, that will be the challenge?
:11:58. > :12:00.It will be really difficult. We're going to be playing some of the
:12:01. > :12:04.biggest and richest clubs in the world. We're going to try our best
:12:05. > :12:08.to compete at a different level. It's been a long, hard road to get
:12:09. > :12:13.where we have got to and we don't intend to give it up easily. We will
:12:14. > :12:17.plan as best we can and compete as best we can exceed them.
:12:18. > :12:22.Congratulations to you, thank you for joining us. We go now to the
:12:23. > :12:25.Portsmouth chairman. Well done to the whole club, added good is it
:12:26. > :12:32.feel to have steered Portsmouth from the brink of extension to promotion?
:12:33. > :12:35.Congratulations burst of all to Paul in Brighton. These south coast clubs
:12:36. > :12:41.are setting the bar high for a us duces, aren't they? Our fog hasn't
:12:42. > :12:44.quite cleared yet, it just seems five minutes ago since I was talking
:12:45. > :12:49.to you when we first took over a year, and the aim always was to make
:12:50. > :12:56.this club forward. It's been tougher than we thought. The fans are second
:12:57. > :13:00.to none. The board and the executive team and everyone involved in this
:13:01. > :13:05.football club are immensely out of everything we have achieved. It's
:13:06. > :13:08.the first step. Briefly, attention turned to a
:13:09. > :13:12.potential takeover by Michael Eisner. How important is it for you
:13:13. > :13:19.and the fans to make the right decision?
:13:20. > :13:26.Well, it's hugely important. Because the next step is a big one. We could
:13:27. > :13:30.have probably gone under the existing ownership model to division
:13:31. > :13:33.one and then had to look for outside investment. Michael Eisner is
:13:34. > :13:39.well-known personality. We've done what a properly un-run a club should
:13:40. > :13:45.do, we have allowed the fans to make the decision, the fans will make
:13:46. > :13:48.that decision and the decision will be huge and whoever takes on the
:13:49. > :13:52.role, I wish them the best. Good to talk to you, we'll be
:13:53. > :13:53.watching carefully. Thank you very much.
:13:54. > :13:56.He weather is lovely at the moment will it stay?
:13:57. > :14:02.Glorious day today, but will be swimming into summer for the rest of
:14:03. > :14:07.the week? A Hampshire swimming club claims
:14:08. > :14:09.it's been left high and dry by a coach company that appears
:14:10. > :14:12.to have gone into liquidation. Victory Travel in Portchester has
:14:13. > :14:14.disappeared after taking bookings and then failing
:14:15. > :14:16.to provide transport. These young athletes from
:14:17. > :14:25.Havant Waterlooville Swimming Club are destined for a three-day
:14:26. > :14:28.intensive swimming session that Just days ago, the coach
:14:29. > :14:33.operator, Victory Travel, suddenly disappeared,
:14:34. > :14:36.leaving them ?500 out of pocket, and no way of getting
:14:37. > :14:40.to Crystal Palace. Then we found out at
:14:41. > :14:48.the last minute, no reply. Obviously, this left
:14:49. > :14:51.us a bit in the lurch. It's unprofessional,
:14:52. > :14:54.and when you've got kids' wishes and dreams and goals here,
:14:55. > :14:58.I think they should have stepped up to the plate and been a bit
:14:59. > :15:01.more on this. Not having on-course training
:15:02. > :15:05.will effect us badly, because it's part of our important
:15:06. > :15:07.schedule, because that is the pool we race in,
:15:08. > :15:11.and it will impact us massively. After lots of ringing around
:15:12. > :15:13.and another coach bill, Pete's Airlink Minibus has stepped
:15:14. > :15:16.in as a last-minute replacement Just one of many clients who claim
:15:17. > :15:21.they've been left stranded. We've come along to the registered
:15:22. > :15:24.address here in Portchester, The firm that shares the building
:15:25. > :15:30.says the company has closed down, and that we're not the first people
:15:31. > :15:34.to come looking for the director We've made a number of attempts
:15:35. > :15:39.to contact Paul Donald, but tonight our calls
:15:40. > :15:41.and e-mails remain unanswered. And the company's website
:15:42. > :15:43.hasn't been operational Hampshire Trading Standards
:15:44. > :15:49.is urging anyone affected to contact the Citizens Advice
:15:50. > :16:04.consumer helpline. On to sport now, Tony Husband's
:16:05. > :16:09.here. A lot of celebrations across this place today. Portsmouth in
:16:10. > :16:13.Brighton both promoted. Both are difficult times recently?
:16:14. > :16:17.Definitely, a moment to compare and contrast. I wore blue for the
:16:18. > :16:21.occasion, because those are the colours the fans of celebrating
:16:22. > :16:25.tonight. Football is so much about cycles. Back in 2003, Portsmouth got
:16:26. > :16:29.promoted to the Premier League. Right-on were playing in athletics
:16:30. > :16:33.stadium and that time. Look at them the other way round now, it falls
:16:34. > :16:38.apart. Right-on had been a Premier League club in all but name for a
:16:39. > :16:42.long time. They have had a habit embedded in the community of getting
:16:43. > :16:47.things right. Portsmouth, it is now a way back.
:16:48. > :16:50.They have both got dedicated fans, great support.
:16:51. > :16:54.The critical decision for Portsmouth, to the go for the
:16:55. > :16:57.overseas investments? We talk Brighton first, they had been the
:16:58. > :17:01.most consistent club in any league in Europe over the last few weeks.
:17:02. > :17:03.Their 2-1 victory over Wigan yesterday was their
:17:04. > :17:06.Glenn Murray got the opener in front of just under
:17:07. > :17:10.Local boy Solly March then found an angle to make it 2-0.
:17:11. > :17:14.Wigan got one back, but it proved only a consolation and it didn't
:17:15. > :17:16.affect the Albion fans starting their party,
:17:17. > :17:20.which went on long into the night and included the news that
:17:21. > :17:27.Huddersfield had only drawn, meaning promotion was confirmed.
:17:28. > :17:34.We go lives to the Amex now, and a man who described every kick of
:17:35. > :17:36.Albion's promotion. What kind of challenge of facing the Premier
:17:37. > :17:42.League? And think it's difficult to say in
:17:43. > :17:46.the immediate aftermath of the ecstasy of promotion. Certainly, the
:17:47. > :17:49.hard work starts now. The Albion have fielded on average the oldest
:17:50. > :17:55.side in the championship match this season, and that's what will need
:17:56. > :17:59.refreshing. The chairman and owner has invested heavily here at the
:18:00. > :18:03.Amex and at the training ground. But this is a new challenge for this
:18:04. > :18:08.football club, and survival is certainly tough. Saying that, Bloom,
:18:09. > :18:12.by profession, is a gambling man, and it would take a brave person to
:18:13. > :18:17.bet against him. They give very much. A great season
:18:18. > :18:19.commentary from BBC Sussex, and three games to go. They can win the
:18:20. > :18:22.title sooner. So along the coast to
:18:23. > :18:24.the celebrations for Portsmouth. They needed to better Luton's result
:18:25. > :18:27.at Mansfield and with the Hatters losing, this 3-1 win at Notts County
:18:28. > :18:30.guaranteed a spot in League One. After Gareth Evans' penalty had been
:18:31. > :18:33.cancelled out by Jorge Grant, Jamal Lowe, who was playing
:18:34. > :18:36.in the nonleague at the turn of the year, came of the bench
:18:37. > :18:38.to score twice to seal 5000 Pompey fans were there to see
:18:39. > :18:43.what they hope will be just Live now to BBC Radio Solent's Andy
:18:44. > :18:57.Moon, the voice of Pompey What challenge awaits in League 1?
:18:58. > :19:01.No question League 1 will be a step up Pompeii, but not one that will be
:19:02. > :19:05.beyond them, given what they have achieved this season. Looking at the
:19:06. > :19:11.squad, most played in the third tier already, if not higher. While
:19:12. > :19:15.players out of contract, many of them will be retained going forward.
:19:16. > :19:19.The challenge for Pompey this season has been breaking down opponents who
:19:20. > :19:22.played very defensively against them. That will change when they
:19:23. > :19:25.make the step up, and a different style may suit them. The last time
:19:26. > :19:29.Paul Cooke was promoted from League 2 with Chesterfield, in his first
:19:30. > :19:33.season they made the play-offs. That may be asking a lot of Pompeii, but
:19:34. > :19:37.I expect them to be a top hat team next season.
:19:38. > :19:39.Fratton Park was the scene are quite a party last night, regular much
:19:40. > :19:41.indeed. The promotion drama
:19:42. > :19:43.is far from over. Reading picked up six points
:19:44. > :19:45.from Easter weekend, including this 2-1 win over
:19:46. > :19:47.relegated Rotherham yesterday, The play-offs seem a certainty
:19:48. > :19:51.for Jaap Stam's side, but it's not inconceivable they
:19:52. > :19:52.could catch Newcastle. Lewis Grabban scored as they came
:19:53. > :20:06.from 1-0 down to seal That was John Swift to make it 2-1.
:20:07. > :20:09.And don't forget, Aldershot up to fifth in the National League as
:20:10. > :20:12.well, there could be successful at them. I can't ever remember the
:20:13. > :20:19.football being quite this good on South Today. Three Premier League
:20:20. > :20:21.teams make season, amazing! Ulick happy.
:20:22. > :20:31.I'm please. Legs get the weather.
:20:32. > :20:33.It is lovely, it's about chilly across the coast. It will feel
:20:34. > :20:35.warmer. Steve Miller photographed the
:20:36. > :20:37.sunrise in the Meon Valley today. Martin Perry took this picture
:20:38. > :20:40.of the blue skies at Colwell Bay And Terry Martin captured the sunny
:20:41. > :20:49.spells at Fobney Lock near Reading. Some glorious sunshine today. Some
:20:50. > :20:54.sunny spells this week, but the weather for the week ahead will be
:20:55. > :21:00.dry. Through April, it has been a fairly dry already. Just tomm in
:21:01. > :21:06.many places. Many the rain because of the dry weather. Bright and sunny
:21:07. > :21:10.spells are possible overnight and through the course of the week.
:21:11. > :21:21.Overnight, we're looking at dry nights. Tonight, we could expect
:21:22. > :21:28.loads of minus four Celsius. Generally, five Celsius the lower in
:21:29. > :21:34.urban areas. A frosty start in many areas, but the surgeon what an hazy
:21:35. > :21:37.with high and medium level cloud arriving through the afternoon.
:21:38. > :21:43.Temperatures up to around 12 Celsius. In chartered spots, a high
:21:44. > :21:47.of 14 Celsius. The winds will be fairly light. Site, the cloud will
:21:48. > :21:56.increase. It won't be as chilly as tonight. The odd bit of frost down
:21:57. > :21:59.to the southeast. Temperatures falling to around six Celsius.
:22:00. > :22:07.Thursday a cloudy day. Through the day we may see light showers. Most
:22:08. > :22:11.places will stay dry, with sunny spells at times. Temperatures very
:22:12. > :22:16.similar to tomorrow, highs of 13 Celsius. It wants up slightly
:22:17. > :22:21.through the course of Friday, high pressure not far away. Through the
:22:22. > :22:25.course of Friday, we see a cold front moving southwards. That will
:22:26. > :22:31.produce showers and increasing cloud. The air behind the cold front
:22:32. > :22:34.coming straight from the North. Friday feeling cooler, especially in
:22:35. > :22:41.the evening, and the weekend as well. The weekend will be similar to
:22:42. > :22:48.this weekend, in north in 3rd northwesterly breeze, sunny spells
:22:49. > :22:52.and possibly cross. Be with us tomorrow if you can,
:22:53. > :22:55.because we have an exclusive report on how overcrowding in prisons is
:22:56. > :22:57.causing staff to fear for their safety.
:22:58. > :23:05.I was knocked out about a year ago by a prisoner in a spice attack.
:23:06. > :23:09.Head-butted me from nowhere, knocked me out. I have been spat at,
:23:10. > :23:13.verbally abused. You have that every single day, there is a dead AI goes
:23:14. > :23:17.through my job I don't get verbally abused.
:23:18. > :23:20.And very candid interview with a prison officer. We'll about tomorrow
:23:21. > :23:26.night. It's editor of this evening, the late news this evening slightly
:23:27. > :23:55.later at 10:50pm, that is part of an extended ten o'clock news. Bye-bye.
:23:56. > :24:05.# You shouldn't have to sell your soul
:24:06. > :24:27.# These are the things I could do without