Friday 14th Febuary 2014

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

First hour: News review with shadow Foreign Office minister and Labour MP for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy. Rushing home for last year’s recall of parliament and Syria vote; Kerry’s visit to Malawi and Mozambique for a Commonwealth conference; LGBTs; Cameron and human rights; DWP leak about privatising the administration of pensions, is it more efficient? Rolls Royce share prices tumble because they are being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) over bribery allegations – rumours that GKN are planning to move away from Filton; Prime Minister’s Questions: Ed Miliband on the floods – should Environment Agency chair Chris Smith resign? PMQs: Graham Morris on the Bedroom Tax being dropped in Scotland – Dispatches documentary showed 350,000 disabled people are hit by this tax and may face eviction; PMQs Stephen Timms MP on 1 million youth unemployed leading to a ‘lost generation’ – Labours’ Future Jobs Fund was dropped when the Tories came to power; talk by Tommy Sheridan, former Scottish Socialist Party MSP, on the cuts policies pursued by all parties; Chancellor George Osborne accused of bullying the Scots on ruling out the Scottish Pound, he, Ed Balls and Danny Alexander taking their orders from former Goldman Sachs governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney.
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Second hour: Round up of international news stories with Martin Summers. The USA military’s’ command bases around the world – UsAfriCom for Africa based in Stuttgart, Germany next door to UsCentCom for the Middle East – USPAcom, USEUcom, USNorthCom and USSouthCom. Pakistani man Kareem Khan, who was to testify about drones strikes on his family to EU, abducted, believed to be by Pakistani secret service the ISI. Reprieve charity campaigning for his release – the destabilising of Pakistan in an undeclared war by NATO. War brought increase in violence against women in Afghanistan but UK and US troops pulling out. Interview with photographer Guy Smallman, journalist who has just returned from Afghanistan where he visited Kabul and Fara City. Violence against women is increasing – poverty, addiction, arranged marriages, no knowledge of human rights, incompetence of the government and an explosion in opium production which Martin Summers says is being shipped out on British military transport planes according to websites NarcoNews and CIAdrugs. Exclusive interview with John Roberts a farmer from Bussex Farm, Westonzoyland on the Somerset levels, about the floods and the incompetence of the Environment Agency, he wants EA chief Chris Smith sacked immediately. Cost to dredge the River Parrett £4.5m, money spent on Steart Bird Sanctuary £32m and the River Parret has enormous silted banks with trees growing on them as well as seven feet of silt in the bottom yet some still deny dredging is needed. Tommy Sheridan’s talk again – abolishing the monarchy and privatising industries in the public sector. Former Scottish Socialist MP Tommy Sheridan wants end to monarchy and nationalisation of utilities. RBS and asset stripping companies. PMQs Cameron asking Ofgem and Competition Commission to look into the profits of the energy companies, as Labour suggested. PMQs Tory MP John Baron on nuclear test veterans – no compensation, Gulf War Syndrome. Former MI5 officer Annie Machon on Edward Snowden, formerly secret ‘Five Eyes’ programme and Echelon – NSA, GCHQ and spying. Former Bristol MP Tony Benn is ill in hospital.
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