Month: November 2012

George Joffe On Conflict Between Israel and Gaza

07:53 Tuesday 20th November 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Renewed efforts to bring peace between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are expected today. Overnight, explosions were heard in Gaza, and sirens sounded in southern Israel. The violence has claimed now more than a hundred lives in just a week. The UN Secretary General is in Cairo to try and agree a ceasefire. Dr George Joffe is a Research Fellow at the Department for Politics and International Studies at Cambridge University, and specialises in the Middle East. He’s with us this morning. Morning George.
GEORGE JOFFE: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: Is there an incentive on either side to stop this violence? Israel say they’re trying to stop the rockets. And Hamas of course have got years and years of hatred welled up inside them. Can both sides come to some sort of worthwhile truce here? Continue reading “George Joffe On Conflict Between Israel and Gaza”

Sir Graham Bright Cambridgeshire Police Crime Commissioner First Interview

08:40 Monday 19th November 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

AUDIO HERE

PAUL STAINTON: Only fifteen per cent of us bothered to turn out on Friday and put a cross in one of the two boxes it would seem. Even less of us wanted the role in the first place. But despite that, Cambridgeshire got its first ever Police and Crime Commissioner this Friday. Here was the moment when the first winner was announced (TAPE)
RETURNING OFFICER: I therefore give notice that Sir Graham Bright the Conservative Party candidate is duly elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Cambridgeshire Police area. (CHEERS) (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: That was the moment. So what challenges does Sir Graham face? And with just fifteen per cent of you taking part in the vote and showing any interest at all, has the new Commissioner got any credibility at all? Let’s speak to Sir Graham. Morning Sir Graham. Continue reading “Sir Graham Bright Cambridgeshire Police Crime Commissioner First Interview”

New Political Party To Defend The NHS

07:20 Thursday 15th November 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A brand new political party is stepping onto the scene today, and one of their key aims is to unseat a Cambridgeshire MP. The founders of the National Health Action Party say the NHS is currently being destroyed by Government reforms, which have been led by the MP for South Cambridgeshire of course, Andrew Lansley. Now we can speak to Dr Richard Taylor, retired hospital doctor, and one of the founders of the new political party. Morning.
RICHARD TAYLOR: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: Is this going to be a nationwide party? Continue reading “New Political Party To Defend The NHS”

Europe Rallies Against Imposed Austerity

17:43 Wednesday 14th November 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: People travelling to Spain and Portugal are experiencing travel problems today, due to general strikes being held. Unions are protesting against austerity measures and rising unemployment. Businesses and schools have also been shut, and there have been some clashes between police and protestors.  There have also been smaller demonstrations in Greece and Italy and Belgium. Our Europe correspondent Duncan Crawford is in Barcelona. Continue reading “Europe Rallies Against Imposed Austerity”

Neil Midgley On Changes At The BBC

17:21 Monday 12th November 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: This morning the BBC’s Head of News and Deputy Head of News stepped aside temporarily while the handling of claims about Jimmy Savile is reviewed. Media expert Neil Midgley joined me earlier to comment on what has been an extraordinary last few weeks and hours for the Corporation. (TAPE)
NEIL MIDGLEY: It does seem extraordinary, and I think today actually I have been, for the first time, really genuinely worried about the future, certainly of the top of the BBC. The senior management seems to be in such disarray. Now that the very short serving Director General George Entwistle has left, there just seems to be if anything increasing chaos at the top of the BBC. And it’s very sad to watch actually.
CHRIS MANN: So what does it need? How can you fix this? Continue reading “Neil Midgley On Changes At The BBC”

Professor Lawrence Sherman On Police Commissioners

07:52 Wednesday 7th November 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: All about elections on the Bigger Breakfast this morning. And just as the excitement drops from the US Presidential election, we get excited again in eight days time, don’t we, for the Police and Crime Commissioners’ elections. What? Seven candidates fighting for your vote. .. Let’s speak to Professor Lawrence Sherman. He’s Director of the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University. Now I was particularly apathetic in my cue there because somebody texted in yesterday and said “apart from you mentioned it on your show, and Andy Harper mentioned it“, he’s not seen a thing. No posters, no people, nobody knocking on his doors, and that’s a bit of a problem, isn’t it?
LAWRENCE SHERMAN: Yes. There is a website, with a lot of information, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire has one, so does the Home Office. And the positions of these seven candidates are spelled out, and I think they’re really important policy issues that people ought to pay attention to. For example, if they don’t want to have their police department outsourced to G4S, which is one of the issues the candidates address. Continue reading “Professor Lawrence Sherman On Police Commissioners”

Peterborough Energy Scheme A Utopian Gamble

07:40 Tuesday 6th November 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: The fight against the closure of the two last Council-run care homes in Peterborough will continue, despite the City Council finally deciding they will shut. At a Cabinet meeting yesterday, it was agreed that Greenwood House will shut at the end of November, Welland House in March next year. But now five councillors are requesting a special Full Council meeting in the hope they can still change the ruling. It follows a huge public outcry from carers, residents, and their fanilies, who dispute the homes aren’t fit for purpose, and better care can be provided by the independent sector. .. The Council’s plans to use farmers’ fields to build a series of green energy plants were also approved and caused much consternation. Joining us now is Councillor Dave Harrington. He’s the Leader of Peterborough’s Independent councillors, and part of the group of councillors who are demanding that both of these issues are debated further at a Full Council meeting. Continue reading “Peterborough Energy Scheme A Utopian Gamble”