Alternative Solutions For Royal Mail

09:10 Wednesday 10th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDIE HARPER: Plans to sell off the Royal Mail will be laid out by the Government later today. One option could be to float the business on the Stock Exchange. Vince Cable will spell out his proposals in the Commons this afternoon. .. Earlier I spoke to Kevin Slocombe from the Communications Workers Union. And I asked him why now? (TAPE)
KEVIN SLOCOMBE: I think the timing’s a little confusing. I don’t think the Government have really got their timescale together yet. But whatever the timing, it’s the wrong thing to do. And we’ll be again saying strongly today that we don’t want the Post Office or Royal Mail sold off, and we want to protect services and keep prices down.
ANDIE HARPER: And what is the main objection from the workers? Because a huge majority of them have voted against the privatisation. Why? Continue reading “Alternative Solutions For Royal Mail”

Parallel Systems Political Interference And The New National Curriculum

09:08 Tuesday 9th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: Fractions for five year olds, the theory of evolution for primary school children, and computer programming for teenagers. These are just some of the highlights of the new National Curriculum for schools in England. The Education Secretary Michael Gove says he believes it will make young people in England the most productive and creative in the world. Clare Blair is the Chair of Governors at Orchard Park School in Cambridge, and she’s been a governor in schools around the County for the past eighteen years or so. Clare, good morning to you.
CLARE BLAIR: Good morning.
ANDIE HARPER: So first things first Clare. Do you think there was anything wrong with the current curriculum? Did it need looking at? Continue reading “Parallel Systems Political Interference And The New National Curriculum”

Future Of Farming Review – Peterborough Does Nothing

07:42 Tuesday 9th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: The results of a Government review into the future of agriculture are unveiled at a farm near Royston today. It will say more needs to be done to promote farming as a career and support people who want to get into farming. Well our reporter Sam Edwards has been to a farm in Newborough near Peterborough with some young farmers. (OB)
SAM EDWARDS: Yes good morning Paul. I’m here at Newborough, and as I look out I can see the new build A16 in the distance, just north of Newborough where I am now on Willow Drive. It’s Lower Willow Farm, a very misty morning so far this morning, but it’s quite sunny and the mist’s starting to lift now. And as I look out I can see green fields and trees everywhere around me. It really is a beautiful day to be working outside. Two people who enjoy such a luxury, Stacey Stringer and Michael Goodliffe, the Chair and Vice Chair of Newborough Young Farmers’ Club respectively. And Stacey, if we can just start with you. There’s a Government review into farming that’s coming out today. Just explain what that is and what today is all about. Continue reading “Future Of Farming Review – Peterborough Does Nothing”

Peterborough Labour Party – Disaffected Elements Complain To Miliband

17:55 Monday 8th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Now we’ve got some breaking news for you. The BBC understands that members of the Labour Party in Peterborough have written to the Party Leader Ed Miliband asking him to investigate the running of the local Party. So the Labour Party in Peterborough have asked the Leader of the Party to investigate the running of the local Party. It follows allegations which may have been repeatedly denied that members of the trade union Unite have played a role in selecting the city’s Parliamentary Candidate Lisa Forbes. Let’s get some more now from the BBC East’s Political Correspondent Andrew Sinclair, who joins me in the studio. Hello Andrew.
ANDREW SINCLAIR: Hi.
CHRIS MANN: As we said breaking news. What can you tell us? Continue reading “Peterborough Labour Party – Disaffected Elements Complain To Miliband”

Ed Miliband – Man Of Integrity

17:20 Friday 5th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Labour have called in the police over alleged irregularities in the selection of their General Election candidate in Falkirk. Britain’s largest union, Unite, is accused of trying to manipulate the process, a claim it vehemently denies.. An internal Party investigation has already led to two people being suspended. Earlier, Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey said he had no trust in the Labour Party leadership. Conservative party Chairman Grant Shapps says Labour are still in thrall to their trade union paymasters. (AUDIO OF GRANT SHAPPS) . But are the Tories making political capital, or is the Labour Party really at war with its biggest union backer? In a moment or two we’ll be talking to the Labour candidate for Cambridge, who himself is a member of the Unite union. But first of all I spoke to the Labour MEP for the Eastern Region, Richard Howitt. (TAPE)
RICHARD HOWITT: Well I think it’s really great that Ed Miliband has done the (UNCLEAR) and he’s stepped in and he’s said no, I’m not going to be party to anything that isn’t fully above board and fair and open. And he’s suspended two people from the Labour Party and he’ll sort it out. Of course no-one wants these local difficulties in any political party, but the important thing is if they come to light, they’re dealt with. And that’s what Ed Miliband has done.
CHRIS MANN: The police are now involved. Could it get any worse? Continue reading “Ed Miliband – Man Of Integrity”

Cambridge Enters Negotiation On City Deal

17:20 Thursday 4th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Five local representatives have been meeting the Deputy Prime Minister this afternoon for the latest round of negotiations of the Greater Cambridge City Deal. If their bid is successful, it will unlock a billion pounds worth of investment in local infrastructure. Our reporter Henrietta McMickey is here to try to explain a bit more about it. A billion pounds That’s a big deal.
HENRIETTA MCMICKEY: It is a big deal. This is part of the idea from central government that gives local areas more say over planning and infrastructure. The Government acknowledges that while London is always crucial, it will be the heartbeat of the UK economy, certain powers need to be devolved to other cities in a bid to increase growth elsewhere.  Cambridge was chosen to be one of the twenty cities that would go forward to the next stage in the negotiations. This is what’s been happening today. The idea is that councils plus local enterprise partnerships (and) representatives of the business community all work together. And to be successful each area must demonstrate a strong local plan that’s going to increase jobs and push industry. Here in Cambridge the Greater Cambridge group is made up of three councils, Cambridge City, Cambridge(shire) county and South Cambridgeshire, the University, and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise partnership.
CHRIS MANN: Well we’re going to be talking to two of those representatives in just a moment. But what happened today?
HENRIETTA MCMICKEY: Well earlier this afternoon five representatives from that group had to go and pitch to Nick Clegg at the Cabinet Office, together with a cross-departmental ministerial group, armed with their plan. What was this bid? Well, as I mentioned, it has to increase jobs and boost growth. So they said let’s have a new and enlarged rail station at Waterbeach, improvements to the A10 down to Cambridge, more buses and bus-lanes in and out of the city, better transport links along the A428 between Bourn and Cambourne, more dedicated cycle paths, and a new park and ride. And the goal, as you said, more than one billion pounds to unlock funding to local government from the centre. So there’s a lot riding on it. And one official described the whole process as kind of Dragons Den.
CHRIS MANN: A bit of a Dragons Den eh? Well let’s find out two of those that had to go into the Dragons Den today. We’re joined live from our Westminster studio by Martin Curtis, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council. Hello Martin.
MARTIN CURTIS: Hi Chris.
CHRIS MANN: And Jeremy Sanders, who’s the Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University Hello Jeremy.
JEREMY SANDERS: Hello Chris. Pro Vice Chancellor.
CHRIS MANN: Pro Vice Chancellor. I do apologise. So, how were the pitches gentlemen? Martin first of all. How do you feel it went? Continue reading “Cambridge Enters Negotiation On City Deal”

Upon A Peak In Darien

17:40 Thursday 4th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridge

CHRIS MANN: Last week the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced the start date of the A14 upgrade has been brought forward to 2016. But just how feasible is that? Pat Hanlon is Senior Lecturer in Transport Economics at Birmingham University, and joins me now. Hell0 Pat.
PAT HANLON: Hello. Hello.
CHRIS MANN: So, 2016, optimistic?
PAT HANLON: Possibly, but three years is still quite a long time. Had a check on other projects which have been road projects, and for instance Junction 19, the renewal of that on the M1. That had its public inquiry in March 2013, with a start date some time of January to March 2014. So although that’s not anything like as big as the upgrade to the A14, I think that we’re in the time scales that you’re looking at for public inquiries. Three years is possible, but they might be a little bit tight when you recognise, public inquiry perhaps .. Continue reading “Upon A Peak In Darien”

Stewart Jackson On High Trees Preservation

17:07 Thursday 4th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson has urged the Government to intervene over the planned demolition of a prominent building in Peterborough, to make way for student accommodation. The Victorian building, High Trees in Eastfield Road has been sold to a property company, in the face of objections from local residents. Well the Leader of the House of Commons, Andrew Lansley, who is of course the MP for South Cambridgeshire, promised to raise it with fellow Ministers. (TAPE)
ANDREW LANSLEY: I can imagine how he and his constituents might be alarmed by an experience of that kind. I will of course raise it with my Honourable Friends at the Department of Communities and Local Government, and encourage them to respond to him. (LIVE)
CHRIS MANN: Well the MP For Peterborough Stewart Jackson joins me now. Hello Stewart.
STEWART JACKSON: Good evening Chris.
CHRIS MANN: So, why have you brought this to the Government’s attention? Why is it so important? Continue reading “Stewart Jackson On High Trees Preservation”