Friday 1st May 2015

BCfm’s weekly politics show presented by Tony Gosling

At five – discussing the big stories in Bristol, Britain and around the world
After six – straight talking and investigative reports with Martin Summers

Listen live http://www.bcfmradio.com/player

First hour: General election discussion on the economy, jailing bankers, 9/11 and the ‘war on terror’. Labour Kerry McCarthy; Lib Dem Mark Wright; Green Justin Quinnell; Chairman of Bristol UKIP Steve Wood; the Conservative party declined to participate. What is your vision for Britain and why should people vote for you?: gap between rich and poor; bedroom tax; fairness; rebalancing of economy where rich pay more;  deficit and debt;  environmental responsibility;  tax; social justice; equality; growth; EU. Referendum on EU – Britain in or out? Trade regulations; reform and negotiation; Council of Ministers; positive laws from EU; Common Agricultural Policy. Banks were bailed out with £750bn – are parties for arresting top bankers? What happened to Andrew Tyrie MP’s Treasury select committee decision to separate high street banks from casino banks? Austerity. ‘All pain for no gain; in the 6th richest country in world as national debt doubles in five years; Glass-Steagall Act in the US separated casino and main street banks; regulation; big four auditors ‘all in it together’; bankers bonus cap; Serious Fraud Office failing to do they’re job and prosecute; fines are just pennies to banks and individuals responsible are not punished; ‘too big to jail’. British national debt has almost doubled to £1.5trn since 2010 election; cancelling debt; Keynesianism. Clip of Richard Gage from ‘Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth’, discussing controlled demolition of twin towers and building 7, subsequent war on terror, homeland security, growing police state, the after-effects of 9/11:  Iraq war; Afghanistan war; Trident; vote on action in Syria; action in Libya; dodgy dossier; ISIS and Al Qaeda; oil.
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Second hour: General election discussion on legal aid cuts, secret societies, freemasonry, Bristol’s £200m Metrobus ‘experiment’ and the Westminster/Whitehall child sexual abuse scandals: Cuts to legal aid and legal advice since 2010:  employment tribunal fees far too expensive; number of cases plummet, lawyers finding it harder to make a living; everyone should be equal under the law; domestic violence. Should candidates declare their Freemason membership like any other business interest? Is freemasonry a religious cult? Do police have to declare their masonic membership? UKIP’s Bristol chairman Steve Wood is a Freemason and takes us through the extensive charity work of the group. Freemason’s lodges being used by organised crime to penetrate the government and criminal justice system. What about Masonic oaths and rituals of initiation? Do you get a hangman’s noose round your neck and a dagger point pressed to your bare chest when you join? Steve can’t tell us. Is there too much surveillance and is NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor? Secret services out of control; failure of Intelligence and Security Committee chair Sir Malcolm Rifkind to hold secret services to account; GCHQ, MI5, MI6 need to do job in secret; they must obtain a court order before putting someone under surveillance? Breaking the criminal law if they don’t. Will the crown prosecute these ‘crown services’? Illegal to spy on confidential communications between lawyers and their clients; illegal spying on MPs and journalists; Are CCTV cameras a waste of money? Report after report shows CCTV fails to cut crime; scrutiny; human rights issues. Is Bristol’s Metrobus ‘guided bus’ scheme a good idea? Problems other places such as Cambridge and Luton have had with a guided bus system; Tim Phillips from ‘Cast Iron’ campaign, about delays and engineering problems in Cambridge; Bristol transport generally. Child abuse: high society cover up;  Leon Brittan, Greville Janner, Cyril Smith; if you do the crime, do the time; Child sex abuse: Watchdog to investigate Metropolitan police over ‘cover-up’ claims involving MPs and officers. Child sexual abuse used for political blackmail; Bloody Sunday inquiry dragging on for decades; Theresa May failing to get child sexual abuse inquiry going; very similar to the Dutroux scandal in Belgium and the Franklin scandal in the United States; gang grooming. Are candidates pro more council housing? Evictions have doubled since 2010; bedroom tax; law changed in 2011 so builders have no social housing requirement; rent capping.
Investigative reports: Maidan Massacre
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BCfm audio file
Radio4all audio file