1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:09,040 the general election 2015 on BBC Radio 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:10,880 leads and BCB 106.6 FM welcome to the 3 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,519 die house Gallery in the Lista building 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:16,119 at Bradford College from its Origins as 5 00:00:13,519 --> 00:00:17,720 you would expect as a die house it's now 6 00:00:16,119 --> 00:00:20,000 a gallery currently hosting an 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:22,920 exhibition of work by local artists 8 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:25,000 depicting everyday scenes from Bradford 9 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:28,800 it's a fitting venue for today's debate 10 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:31,000 on firsttime voters both young and old 11 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:33,640 how to engage them in politics and how 12 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:36,120 to get the 182 million people who didn't 13 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:38,879 vote at the last election to make their 14 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:40,640 choice count I'm Richard stead and with 15 00:00:38,879 --> 00:00:44,039 me this evening from Bradford Community 16 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:46,320 broadcasting is AWA alari evening good 17 00:00:44,039 --> 00:00:48,440 evening I'm in the audience today and as 18 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,239 would you expect at Bradford College 19 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,960 there are a lot of young voters and a 20 00:00:50,239 --> 00:00:54,879 few older firsttime voters and a few 21 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,079 who've seen it done it and even got the 22 00:00:54,879 --> 00:00:59,480 T-shirt we've been asking people here in 23 00:00:57,079 --> 00:01:01,800 West Yorkshire what if anything is 24 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:06,000 firing them up about general election 25 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:11,600 2015 the general election 2015 on BBC 26 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:14,159 Radio leads and bcv 106.6 FM election no 27 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:17,960 one told me about elections how old are 28 00:01:14,159 --> 00:01:19,960 you 19 so you're allowed to vote well 29 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:21,680 I've heard a few things here and there 30 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:24,320 but I thought it was just like the 31 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:26,000 hustings and juny and those elections my 32 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:28,360 name is Justin I'm from West Yorkshire 33 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,200 Bradford and basically I decided not to 34 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:32,840 vote on the basis that I don't feel that 35 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,320 the MPS or the politicians are have any 36 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,880 interest in actually doing the job all 37 00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:38,079 their policies they they leave them 38 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,720 behind and they just focus on getting 39 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:42,560 their own bonuses and putting 40 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:45,119 corporations into power in the UK 6.8 41 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:47,200 million 18 to 24 year olds are eligible 42 00:01:45,119 --> 00:01:49,680 to vote you're a powerful force to be 43 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:52,119 reckoned with but a huge amount of this 44 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:54,600 power isn't being used the number of you 45 00:01:52,119 --> 00:01:56,520 voting has been low in recent elections 46 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,840 but if more of you turn out this time 47 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,039 there are enough of you to create a 48 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:02,280 massive swing for one of the parties I'm 49 00:02:00,039 --> 00:02:04,360 Myra I live in whipy and I've been 50 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,399 voting for 60 years and the reason why 51 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,800 I'm voting is I think we all should not 52 00:02:06,399 --> 00:02:10,840 just men all women all everybody that's 53 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:13,319 old enough to vote wants to vote hi I'm 54 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:16,120 Josie I'm from badford West and I'm 55 00:02:13,319 --> 00:02:18,040 going to be a firsttime voter I'm 18 and 56 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,920 I'm voting because I think that if you 57 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:22,440 don't vote or at least turn up and spoil 58 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:24,280 your ballot then you can't complain 59 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,680 about anything and I feel like I've got 60 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:28,680 quite a lot to complain about and 61 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:31,280 probably will next government and all hi 62 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:33,640 I'm Zoe I'm from I'm 19 so I'm a first 63 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,959 time voter I'm voting because I want to 64 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:38,480 think that my vote counts and I can make 65 00:02:34,959 --> 00:02:44,560 a difference the general election 2015 66 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:46,560 on BBC Radio leads and BCB 106.6 FM so 67 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:49,120 time to meet our panel of candidates 68 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,840 across parties and constituencies in 69 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,680 alphabetical order standing for the 70 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:55,840 conservatives in Batley and Spen M as a 71 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,800 mean is a solicitor he's previously 72 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:01,040 stood for his party in Blackburn against 73 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:03,200 the then foreign minister Jack STW the 74 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:05,879 respect candidate is George Galloway 75 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:08,080 once a labor MP now leader of respect 76 00:03:05,879 --> 00:03:10,519 who has been an MP first in Bethel green 77 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:12,120 and bow and most recently as MP for 78 00:03:10,519 --> 00:03:14,920 Bradford West since 79 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:17,200 2012 the lib demam on our panel is Ed 80 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:20,200 Sanderson another solicitor he's 81 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:23,319 standing in the Leeds East constituency 82 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:25,319 and for labor Nas sha Naz is a women's 83 00:03:23,319 --> 00:03:28,080 rights campaigner who has been selected 84 00:03:25,319 --> 00:03:31,760 to stand in Bradford West for her party 85 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,760 ladies and Gentlemen please welcome the 86 00:03:36,519 --> 00:03:42,040 panel bcb's AA alari is in the audience 87 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,360 this evening for us AA are they all 88 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,879 behaving themselves so far I think so 89 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,920 yeah we've got audience as far as the 90 00:03:45,879 --> 00:03:50,680 eye can see and everyone is ready to 91 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:52,640 engage um healthfully in this debate so 92 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,840 um and we're going to move into our 93 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,640 first questioner who is MTAR Ali from 94 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:59,200 Bradford MTAR Ali just a bit of a 95 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,200 background is an activist from Bradford 96 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,680 uh and he was former labor counselor who 97 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,560 left the labor party uh on the back of 98 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,239 the Iraq War MTAR Ali what is your 99 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:12,599 question to the panel today with 100 00:04:08,239 --> 00:04:15,000 the um growing discontent disconnect and 101 00:04:12,599 --> 00:04:17,199 mistrust with the political system and 102 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:22,079 politicians in this country what would 103 00:04:17,199 --> 00:04:25,320 you do to engage and Empower Comm all 104 00:04:22,079 --> 00:04:26,919 communities in our society so that this 105 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:30,320 can be an inclusive 106 00:04:26,919 --> 00:04:32,080 Society so the question is this connect 107 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,560 between political Elite and the general 108 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,320 public thank you very much we'll let 109 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,400 George Galloway take that one first well 110 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:40,639 you have to say what you mean and mean 111 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:43,960 what you say and if you are a politician 112 00:04:40,639 --> 00:04:47,000 like that you will get a response but if 113 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:51,880 people know that you are just a kind of 114 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:53,759 human pager who passes on a line which 115 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,080 is different from the line yesterday and 116 00:04:53,759 --> 00:04:58,800 will be different from the line tomorrow 117 00:04:56,080 --> 00:05:02,000 if you're just an automaton who will be 118 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:04,400 a sheep going through the lobby of the 119 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:08,400 House of Commons you're not likely to 120 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:11,720 excite much uh in the way of enthusiasm 121 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:15,800 you are a good example uh you like me 122 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:19,360 were in the labor party for decades and 123 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:23,400 you left I was expelled because of a 124 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:27,000 crime so gigantic that it's strange now 125 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:31,800 looking back at it 12 years on a million 126 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:36,080 dead people on and Iraq and Syria and 127 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:39,120 Yemen and Bahrain and Libya most 128 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:41,919 noteworthy in the news today all of them 129 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:46,440 in flames in a kind of disaster and that 130 00:05:41,919 --> 00:05:49,880 was done by politicians it was done by 131 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:52,919 labor politicians who with George W bush 132 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:56,600 formed the most grotesque Coalition in 133 00:05:52,919 --> 00:06:00,280 all history the Blair Bush gang and of 134 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:03,560 course uh it's not only labor the reason 135 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:07,280 why students are unlikely to save Nick 136 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:09,319 CLE uh in his constituency in Sheffield 137 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:12,840 is that he signed in blood that there 138 00:06:09,319 --> 00:06:16,199 would be H an abolition of tuition fees 139 00:06:12,840 --> 00:06:18,960 instead there was a tripling of tuition 140 00:06:16,199 --> 00:06:21,720 fees so you have to say what you mean 141 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:24,319 mean what you say I firmly believe that 142 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:26,599 people are not apathetic about politics 143 00:06:24,319 --> 00:06:29,759 they're apoplectic about the pathetic 144 00:06:26,599 --> 00:06:32,360 nature of the political class with some 145 00:06:29,759 --> 00:06:34,199 exeptions let's get nasha's thoughts on 146 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,599 that in answer to your question about 147 00:06:34,199 --> 00:06:37,800 how to engage I'm not a career 148 00:06:35,599 --> 00:06:39,520 politician I'm an activist by background 149 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,599 and I still continue to be that and I 150 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,880 and I absolutely Endeavor to continue to 151 00:06:41,599 --> 00:06:46,400 do that work in the community regardless 152 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:48,039 of the election I and I think that 153 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,880 speaks volumes when you actually engage 154 00:06:48,039 --> 00:06:51,520 with people on the ground when you 155 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,319 actually work with families with young 156 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,880 people with older people you know I 157 00:06:53,319 --> 00:06:56,199 chare mental health charity I've done 158 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,120 lots of work in the community on other 159 00:06:56,199 --> 00:07:00,000 levels I think that engagement has to be 160 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:03,000 meaningful you have to be able to sit 161 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:05,080 with people and talk to them and I think 162 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:07,560 politicians there's an air of you're 163 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:09,199 different to us and I think for my part 164 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:12,199 and the my play the part that I'm going 165 00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:13,680 to play is about real engagement as part 166 00:07:12,199 --> 00:07:15,639 of the community and I think that's 167 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:18,080 really very different I think people you 168 00:07:15,639 --> 00:07:19,759 know you can have empathy but to be be 169 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,759 able to relate to people you people need 170 00:07:19,759 --> 00:07:23,440 to find connecting things that connect 171 00:07:21,759 --> 00:07:25,080 you with them and I think I have a lot 172 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,960 of that so that's how I do it using my 173 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:29,639 Community Development background Ed 174 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:32,080 Sanderson give us a lib Den view well 175 00:07:29,639 --> 00:07:34,960 the libdem tradition has always been 176 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:37,479 based in community politics um and and 177 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:40,879 listening to to voters concerns on a 178 00:07:37,479 --> 00:07:43,759 community level um and I think there's 179 00:07:40,879 --> 00:07:46,720 been a perception amongst all parties 180 00:07:43,759 --> 00:07:50,080 politicians and political class don't 181 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:51,720 listen to voters um it's not that voters 182 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:54,080 aren't interested in politics or 183 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:57,479 political issues because of course 184 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:59,199 everything that affects um voters from 185 00:07:57,479 --> 00:08:01,240 the amount of money that in their back 186 00:07:59,199 --> 00:08:03,280 pocket every month to the state of the 187 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,919 environment to the transport system 188 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,360 clearly affects them it's just that 189 00:08:05,919 --> 00:08:09,479 politicians aren't seem to be able to 190 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:12,960 listen or want to engage or speak the 191 00:08:09,479 --> 00:08:16,000 same almost the same languages as they 192 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:18,560 do so public politicians need to return 193 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,840 to be Servants of the people and that 194 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:23,000 means doing the right thing for voters 195 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:26,159 and I think all parties need to learn 196 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:29,840 from that uh uh from across the 197 00:08:26,159 --> 00:08:32,000 political divide M as a me I think 198 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:35,479 there's a disconnect because there are 199 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:37,599 fewer and fewer conviction politicians 200 00:08:35,479 --> 00:08:40,000 nowadays uh than there was say perhaps 201 00:08:37,599 --> 00:08:41,919 even 20 years ago so if if you go back 202 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,599 to for example the late 80s and you had 203 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:45,000 whether you liked her or disliked her 204 00:08:43,599 --> 00:08:47,000 you had someone like margarth thater you 205 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:49,200 knew exactly what she stood for on the 206 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,000 left you knew exactly what labor party 207 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,880 stood for and at the moment what's 208 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:55,920 happened and it's partly because fewer 209 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:58,079 and fewer people are voting that all the 210 00:08:55,920 --> 00:09:00,160 political parties are targeting the same 211 00:08:58,079 --> 00:09:01,920 group of Voters so so we often hear the 212 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:04,320 center ground is the where is where all 213 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,480 the votes are and all the parties are 214 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:09,160 pitching to a smaller and smaller number 215 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:11,320 of Voters because they feel that that 216 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,079 group of Voters will swing the election 217 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,720 and the reason that group of Voters will 218 00:09:13,079 --> 00:09:17,000 swing the election is because the wi the 219 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,920 public is not voting and unless 220 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,839 everybody decides and takes the view 221 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:23,640 that regardless of which party I vote 222 00:09:20,839 --> 00:09:25,480 for I am going to go and vote you will 223 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:28,839 continue to have this type of targeting 224 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:30,440 of Voters using fancy software and every 225 00:09:28,839 --> 00:09:33,120 party has 226 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:34,600 as far as empowerment is concerned it's 227 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,120 one thing saying we have to listen to 228 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:38,079 the public we have to engage with the 229 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,720 public these are cliches we hear on a 230 00:09:38,079 --> 00:09:43,160 regular basis empowerment will only take 231 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:45,640 place when the issues that are relevant 232 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:49,480 to the public are discussed by 233 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:52,760 politicians so for example to in in in 234 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:54,120 in where we are um you had a with George 235 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,360 Galloway you had a very surprising 236 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,320 result a few years ago because the 237 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,880 language being spoken appealed to a 238 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:02,240 certain number of Voters 239 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:03,959 and I think it's the same message across 240 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:07,200 the board regardless of which party 241 00:10:03,959 --> 00:10:09,760 political background you come from if a 242 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,760 politician speaks your language deals 243 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:14,360 with the issues that are important to 244 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,920 you you will engage with that politician 245 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,440 but it's a two-way process you can't 246 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,959 continue to say oh the politicians don't 247 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,800 listen they don't engage politicians do 248 00:10:18,959 --> 00:10:22,600 listen they do engage but it is a 249 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,920 two-way process where the public has to 250 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:27,120 say this is what's important to me what 251 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:29,399 are you going to do about it just like 252 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,880 to uh get a show of hands actually on a 253 00:10:29,399 --> 00:10:32,680 couple of points raised there I know the 254 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,680 fact that you're all at a political 255 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:36,399 debate shows some kind of connection to 256 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:37,720 politics but is there anybody in the 257 00:10:36,399 --> 00:10:40,560 room who does feel particularly 258 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:43,720 disconnected with politics at the moment 259 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:46,639 yeah I only a smattering who said I do 260 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:49,279 we'll let a come in and ask you why uh 261 00:10:46,639 --> 00:10:52,000 yeah I am dis I feel disconnected I've 262 00:10:49,279 --> 00:10:55,800 been voting for over 50 years 263 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:57,959 now and in all that time the politics 264 00:10:55,800 --> 00:11:00,040 have said the same whether it's local or 265 00:10:57,959 --> 00:11:02,480 or national 266 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:06,800 what is happening now is a kind of mini 267 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:09,120 Revolution within local local and 268 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:11,360 National and I don't think that's such a 269 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:15,480 bad thing but what I do what I am 270 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:18,920 concerned about is that the the way that 271 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:22,040 is put over nowadays is not to encourage 272 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:25,160 people to vote it's actually confused 273 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:27,000 them because what is in what is in there 274 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:29,639 for the young youngsters 275 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,360 nowadays is nothing thank thank you very 276 00:11:29,639 --> 00:11:33,800 much any of the panel want to agree 277 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:37,399 disagree I I would uh make the point 278 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:39,399 that the clear winner of the sort of 279 00:11:37,399 --> 00:11:42,360 presidential style debates that we've 280 00:11:39,399 --> 00:11:44,360 had has been Nicholas sturgeon of the 281 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:47,399 Scottish national party a party that 282 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:51,880 stands only in Scotland uh which is 283 00:11:47,399 --> 00:11:54,240 standing therefore uh for the breakup uh 284 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:57,560 of Britain and yet she's taken the 285 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:59,760 debates by storm why because of the 286 00:11:57,560 --> 00:12:02,399 pathetic nature the three cheeks of the 287 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:04,519 same backside of the mainstream parties 288 00:12:02,399 --> 00:12:07,680 and because she's given them a spanking 289 00:12:04,519 --> 00:12:10,040 on television and it's really set the 290 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:13,560 whole thing a light now don't get me 291 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:16,720 wrong I hope she comes a Cropper but the 292 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:19,079 reality is she shown up the other 293 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:22,360 politicians because she's the only one 294 00:12:19,079 --> 00:12:24,560 there saying scrap nuclear weapons spend 295 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:27,360 the money at home we need it spent on 296 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:30,160 our Health Service stop bailing out the 297 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:32,480 bankers spend the money at home our 298 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:36,040 pensioners need to be kept warm in the 299 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:38,839 winter time stop this austerity it's 300 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:43,279 killing us it wasn't us that caused the 301 00:12:38,839 --> 00:12:44,920 crisis it was the bankers what did I get 302 00:12:43,279 --> 00:12:47,160 getting billions I just want to get the 303 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:49,320 other uh other people's points of view 304 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:51,560 on how their leaders have performed in 305 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,360 the various interviews and debates that 306 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:55,639 we've seen Ed you seem very keen assess 307 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:59,440 Nick CLE for us well Nick CLE of course 308 00:12:55,639 --> 00:13:01,440 wasn't invited to the last opposition 309 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,320 debates he's been in would those debates 310 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:05,800 would debate I I I thought he he 311 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:07,079 performed very well where I would agree 312 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,519 with George I mean this is different 313 00:13:07,079 --> 00:13:11,120 from ideology I think where Nicholas 314 00:13:08,519 --> 00:13:13,600 sturgeon has performed very well is 315 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:15,440 increasing the membership of the S SMP 316 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,120 and seeing that as very important in the 317 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,000 political process now clearly I don't 318 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,360 agree with their ideologies but I what I 319 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,279 think all the establishment parties 320 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:25,120 could do better and and include the 321 00:13:22,279 --> 00:13:27,000 liberal Democrats in this is is using 322 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:29,560 voters and involving them more within 323 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,480 the political party itself and the 324 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:34,000 political process itself and you see the 325 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:35,320 reason the S&P have become so successful 326 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,120 and they're making great stads 327 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,839 particularly in labor heartlands there's 328 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,760 a high chance you may actually see more 329 00:13:38,839 --> 00:13:42,320 conservative Scottish seats in the next 330 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:45,040 after the general election than labor 331 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:47,639 seats we never thought we'd say that is 332 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,880 because that that the S&P have at least 333 00:13:47,639 --> 00:13:50,639 and I say I don't agree with a lot of 334 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:53,160 their policies have at least been able 335 00:13:50,639 --> 00:13:55,639 to identify that voters want to 336 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:57,199 participate in the political process 337 00:13:55,639 --> 00:13:58,519 themselves now that doesn't mean running 338 00:13:57,199 --> 00:14:00,040 for election that means getting involved 339 00:13:58,519 --> 00:14:02,040 in membership and getting involved in 340 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:05,079 policy now the liberal Democrats do get 341 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:06,680 our members involved in policy but um I 342 00:14:05,079 --> 00:14:08,880 I think we could we could as a party do 343 00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:11,040 a better job in terms of getting people 344 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,440 involved and terms of becoming I want to 345 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,759 keep this on the party leaders just for 346 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,639 now because I want to talk about David 347 00:14:13,759 --> 00:14:18,320 Cameron and uh I will get uh Mt Asam 348 00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:20,360 mean's thoughts on how David Cameron has 349 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:22,079 performed so far I think he performed 350 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,440 very well I mean it's easy in opposition 351 00:14:22,079 --> 00:14:26,800 for someone like Nicholas sturgeon to 352 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:29,360 say I want x y and Zed 190 billion of 353 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,880 uncosted um commitments it's it's a lot 354 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:33,440 more difficult when you have a record to 355 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:35,839 defend and especially that record it's a 356 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:39,000 good record I I I it it is a good record 357 00:14:35,839 --> 00:14:40,839 unemployment is down by uh we've got 358 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,920 we've increased employment by 2.2 359 00:14:40,839 --> 00:14:44,759 million more jobs have been created in 360 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,120 Yorkshire more more jobs have been 361 00:14:44,759 --> 00:14:48,440 created in Yorkshire than the whole of 362 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,800 France and we have spent 8 billion 363 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:52,759 pounds more uh We've we've we've 364 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,759 actually spent 12 billion pounds more on 365 00:14:52,759 --> 00:14:56,839 the NHS in the last 5 years we have a 366 00:14:54,759 --> 00:15:00,759 good record um the economy was in an 367 00:14:56,839 --> 00:15:02,720 absolute mess uh 5 years ago150 billion 368 00:15:00,759 --> 00:15:04,959 pound of deficit it's all well and good 369 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,320 saying we now well it's all well and 370 00:15:04,959 --> 00:15:08,680 good saying that we don't want any 371 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,480 austerity but how do you continue to 372 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,480 spend at the rate that the labor party 373 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,519 was spending and expect to fund your 374 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:16,199 public services so I think what David 375 00:15:14,519 --> 00:15:18,480 Cameron has said in the debate and what 376 00:15:16,199 --> 00:15:20,320 he said on the interviews is absolutely 377 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,279 100% correct we had a job to do we've 378 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:24,480 done that we're in the right direction 379 00:15:22,279 --> 00:15:26,800 and we need to continue in that uh with 380 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:30,079 with with the economic plan that we're 381 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:31,920 on okay uh Nasha EDM Ed I'd beg to 382 00:15:30,079 --> 00:15:34,040 differ on the economy tell us about Ed 383 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,279 Mand I I think Ed milland's going pretty 384 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:36,600 well and I think from a leadership 385 00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:37,880 perspective I mean I I spent the 386 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:39,759 afternoon I was very privileged to spend 387 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:41,199 the afternoon with Ken Livingston who 388 00:15:39,759 --> 00:15:43,600 came up to support me yesterday 389 00:15:41,199 --> 00:15:45,680 afternoon and his words were since John 390 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:47,240 Smith he's the best leader we've had 391 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:50,120 from a leadership perspective I think 392 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:52,480 he's he's absolutely on top form I also 393 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:54,920 disagree with um you know for every four 394 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:56,720 jobs you've got in London we've only got 395 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:59,199 one up in the north so that's absolutely 396 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:01,160 statistically correct so we haven't we 397 00:15:59,199 --> 00:16:03,279 got those jobs in we haven't got them up 398 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:05,279 in the north in Yorkshire and I I don't 399 00:16:03,279 --> 00:16:07,240 think that Devolution has happened and 400 00:16:05,279 --> 00:16:08,759 it's not on your far long your your way 401 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,360 off Mark in terms of meeting your 402 00:16:08,759 --> 00:16:12,120 economic plan because you're three years 403 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,360 off it you said you'd meet the deficit 404 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,720 in five years continue to tell us about 405 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,360 Ed Miller Band we'll try and revisit 406 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,360 that particular statistic later but as 407 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:20,160 far as he is performing in these debates 408 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:22,199 and he's coming across I think he's 409 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,959 coming across pretty very congruent he's 410 00:16:22,199 --> 00:16:25,600 coming across as a strong leader it's 411 00:16:23,959 --> 00:16:27,120 exactly what the labor party needs to 412 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:30,240 take us through 413 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:32,920 2015 you're listening to BBC Radio leads 414 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:35,920 I'm Richard Ste from BBC Radio leads and 415 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:39,040 I'm Ahad Mari here from BCB 416 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:40,959 106.6 FM where the audience have just 417 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:44,639 questioned the panel and our next 418 00:16:40,959 --> 00:16:47,560 question is from adri Azar from Halifax 419 00:16:44,639 --> 00:16:49,720 who is a freelance actor and is 30 years 420 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:51,959 old uh the main question I want to ask 421 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:54,120 is how are you going to be able to help 422 00:16:51,959 --> 00:16:56,240 um obviously communities to engage 423 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:58,000 together as a whole um obviously for 424 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,880 young voters to come forward and vote 425 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,000 when there's a lot obviously going on in 426 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:04,079 the world itself at the moment Ed 427 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,319 Sanderson well in particularly in terms 428 00:17:04,079 --> 00:17:09,880 of young voters one of our policies is 429 00:17:06,319 --> 00:17:11,360 to um exchange the franchise to um 16 um 430 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,839 we think that's very important in terms 431 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:15,640 of getting um we've seen how successful 432 00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:19,079 it was in the Scottish referendum how 433 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:21,199 many 16 to 17 year olds voted um we 434 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:24,919 think if you're old enough to um get 435 00:17:21,199 --> 00:17:26,480 married to to pay tax to to to have sex 436 00:17:24,919 --> 00:17:29,039 and to join the Army should be allowed 437 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:30,919 to vote um and you know service have 438 00:17:29,039 --> 00:17:33,880 shown that if you are engaged at 16 and 439 00:17:30,919 --> 00:17:36,880 17 that continues to the ages of 18 and 440 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:38,640 24 which is the key issue I think our 441 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,600 electoral system needs to change I think 442 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,280 if people realize that their vote counts 443 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,280 for more and we have a proportional 444 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:47,080 system they're more likely to vote as 445 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:50,200 well if you vote for for if you vote in 446 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:53,000 a safe seat there's no entitlement to 447 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,880 vote so that's in terms of citizenship I 448 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,320 think that's very important but I think 449 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,559 that's a lifelong commitment that we 450 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:00,159 need to make um I think more money 451 00:17:58,559 --> 00:18:02,520 should be ring fence and giv to local 452 00:18:00,159 --> 00:18:05,080 councils to improve adult lifelong um 453 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:06,679 ideas of citizenship as well um and 454 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:09,600 Leadership again it's this question i' 455 00:18:06,679 --> 00:18:12,120 we repeat uh the answer i' repeat before 456 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,799 um all political parties and the media 457 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:15,600 as well have a role in promoting the 458 00:18:13,799 --> 00:18:17,960 positive impacts at politicians and and 459 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:21,400 the public service make in general but 460 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:23,880 also um but also um listening more to 461 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,440 voters and and and and workers groups as 462 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:28,320 well let's find out what labor are doing 463 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:30,640 to engage Nasha in terms of citizenship 464 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:32,520 I think we we agree and I agree with um 465 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,880 Ed in terms of lowering the voting age I 466 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,600 think it's absolutely right that young 467 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,880 people use their voice I think it's 468 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,760 absolutely right if they're paying their 469 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,880 taxes they should be entitled to have 470 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:43,200 that civic participation I think there's 471 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,559 a task to be done to strengthen 472 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,120 communities strengthen young people's 473 00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:48,039 education in terms of political 474 00:18:46,120 --> 00:18:49,720 engagement and I think from a leadership 475 00:18:48,039 --> 00:18:51,880 perspective let's be clear leadership is 476 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:54,039 on every single seat leadership isn't 477 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,400 about top down it's about creating you 478 00:18:54,039 --> 00:18:58,280 know a good leader creates more leaders 479 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,120 and we have leaders in our schools we 480 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,760 have leaders amongst our young people 481 00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:03,960 the Future Leaders and and the future 482 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:05,799 lies in the hands of our young people I 483 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,720 think it's absolutely imperative on a 484 00:19:05,799 --> 00:19:09,600 personal level I will be very very 485 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:12,559 actively engaged looking engaging with 486 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:14,000 young people in terms of democracy why 487 00:19:12,559 --> 00:19:15,919 are we not giving those young people 488 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,760 that right why are we not at the moment 489 00:19:15,919 --> 00:19:19,280 if we were in power we would be one of 490 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,919 the first things we would be doing is 491 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,200 lowering that voting age and rightfully 492 00:19:20,919 --> 00:19:23,600 so I think we're going to have a bit of 493 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,480 a debate on the actual lowering of a 494 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,679 voting age in just a moment uh George 495 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:30,440 Galloway on engagement well look we've 496 00:19:27,679 --> 00:19:32,880 got a parliament for full of expenses 497 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:36,360 thieves some of whom should have gone to 498 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:40,559 prison but went instead back to their 499 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:43,840 cabinet positions we have a political 500 00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:48,559 class under a cloud of Suspicion of the 501 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:54,200 darkest most vile kind establishment 502 00:19:48,559 --> 00:19:56,840 coverups of foul perverse crimes we have 503 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:59,280 a political leadership that has led us 504 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:03,320 into one war 505 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:07,679 after another David Cameron with Ed mban 506 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:10,360 support bombed Libya to bits and the 507 00:20:07,679 --> 00:20:13,520 Italian Navy are now having to fish the 508 00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:16,360 pieces out of the Mediterranean Sea how 509 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:19,000 can you engage with people when that's 510 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:20,960 the quality of the political leadership 511 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:23,039 that you have been giving them the 512 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:26,120 crimes of Blair were bigger of course 513 00:20:23,039 --> 00:20:29,280 but longer ago although he's still 514 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:31,679 around of course and my film the 515 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:34,960 killings of Tony Blair will be premiered 516 00:20:31,679 --> 00:20:38,200 in this very city of Bradford in a month 517 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:40,960 or two from now but the political 518 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:43,960 leadership in Britain is simply 519 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:47,080 incapable of rising to the challenge 520 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:50,039 that faces our people our people are 521 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:53,520 atomized you talk about a community but 522 00:20:50,039 --> 00:20:56,600 there's actually now no British 523 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:59,559 Community we have people who are 524 00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:03,159 deliberately setting out to divide us on 525 00:20:59,559 --> 00:21:06,000 the basis of color on the basis of Faith 526 00:21:03,159 --> 00:21:09,360 people seeking votes by dredging the 527 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:13,760 Battle of prejudice against Muslims for 528 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:18,400 example Trojan horses Trojan hoaxes 529 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:21,760 every kind of racist filth is dredged up 530 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:24,240 by the British media in support of this 531 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:26,600 or that part of the political class how 532 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:28,320 do I engage though gent said well let me 533 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:31,200 tell you the gentleman in the second row 534 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:33,240 said said we need a peaceful revolution 535 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,440 in this country that's exactly what we 536 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:38,440 need we need to throw out these 537 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:41,799 political charlatans and get real change 538 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:43,760 George thank you um inamine 539 00:21:41,799 --> 00:21:46,640 conservatives how do we engage with 540 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:49,000 voters um can I just say that answer 541 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:51,159 probably explains why we have a 542 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:53,919 Detachment with politics when you 543 00:21:51,159 --> 00:21:56,000 brandish every politician as corrupt or 544 00:21:53,919 --> 00:22:00,520 as an expense Thief you you do yourself 545 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:00,520 no favors there are there are 546 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:05,000 there are people who are doing a lot of 547 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,720 good work in Parliament and to call them 548 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:09,000 all and and group them and say that 549 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:11,279 they're all a bunch of crooks and it 550 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,400 does the politics and the system no 551 00:22:11,279 --> 00:22:15,240 favors the way you engage with people 552 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:18,440 and and uh especially young voters 553 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:20,760 firsttime voters a person who's 16 or 17 554 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,720 needs to understand that they're going 555 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,120 to go University then they're going to 556 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,440 be looking for a job then they'll be 557 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:28,919 looking for a home it is they have to 558 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,559 take some individual responsibility it's 559 00:22:28,919 --> 00:22:32,080 all well and good saying well no the 560 00:22:30,559 --> 00:22:34,919 system doesn't work for us and we're not 561 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:36,880 interested if you are looking for a 562 00:22:34,919 --> 00:22:38,320 career if you're looking to buy your own 563 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:40,200 home if you're looking to get involved 564 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,640 in your own Community you can do that by 565 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,880 getting involved in the political 566 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,720 process it's all it's all it's easy to 567 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,679 detach yourself saying well they're all 568 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,960 the same no one makes any difference 569 00:22:47,679 --> 00:22:50,480 well you can make a difference get 570 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,840 involved make a difference well let's 571 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:54,559 get someone who maybe is who's going to 572 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:56,840 be a firsttime voter this time around 573 00:22:54,559 --> 00:23:00,400 May 7th who's going to be voting for the 574 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:02,480 first time oh go go speak to one and 575 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:04,640 just ask how connected they feel well 576 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:07,200 the first hand I saw going up was here 577 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:08,799 so what's your name sir my name's n how 578 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:11,720 connected do you feel as a firsttime 579 00:23:08,799 --> 00:23:13,000 voter um yeah so far definitely like 580 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:14,200 there's been plenty in the media about 581 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:17,080 it that's why I'm getting most of my 582 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:18,919 information but um in terms of Bradford 583 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:20,400 West which is constituency in that the 584 00:23:18,919 --> 00:23:21,919 candidates are pretty much on the ground 585 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,720 and I've met a few of them already and 586 00:23:21,919 --> 00:23:27,159 gotten gotten their side of it so I I 587 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:29,360 feel fairly connected but also you know 588 00:23:27,159 --> 00:23:31,360 I I this is my first election that I've 589 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:33,120 been able to vote in here uh I do have 590 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:34,919 an interest in politics so I am going 591 00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:36,919 out and trying to find out information 592 00:23:34,919 --> 00:23:38,840 thank you Nile you're listening to BBC 593 00:23:36,919 --> 00:23:41,080 Radio leads we're at Bradford College's 594 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,760 die house gallery for the second of our 595 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,880 election debates it's on firsttime 596 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:47,039 voters and how we engage people in 597 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:49,880 politics ahead of the general election 598 00:23:47,039 --> 00:23:51,600 2015 our panel all candidates for their 599 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,559 respective parties in West Yorkshire at 600 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:56,559 the general election are just to remind 601 00:23:53,559 --> 00:23:58,960 you Nash sha for labor Ed Sanderson Li 602 00:23:56,559 --> 00:24:01,760 liberal Democrats George gall away 603 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:03,559 respect and empty as a mean from the 604 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,520 conservatives let's take another 605 00:24:03,559 --> 00:24:09,120 question from the floor please so our 606 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:11,400 next question is by siman hi I'm siman 607 00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:13,559 I'm a member of the UK youth Parliament 608 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,720 uh my question is uh politicians preach 609 00:24:13,559 --> 00:24:18,000 a lot about equality they preach about 610 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,520 Justice and they preach about Liberation 611 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,720 uh can you tell me why your party is 612 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:23,640 still denying the vote to 16 and 17 year 613 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,720 olds but not in terms of including it in 614 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:27,559 the manifesto but the time is taking to 615 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,960 pass it through Parliament because it's 616 00:24:27,559 --> 00:24:30,240 a campaign that's been running for three 617 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,240 years and it really should have been and 618 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:34,480 it's just by now if I can just put that 619 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,440 as a direct question firstly to NAS sha 620 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:39,039 NZ would you support lowering the voting 621 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:40,799 age to 16 absolutely I feel strongly 622 00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:43,039 that young 16 178 year olds should be 623 00:24:40,799 --> 00:24:46,279 able to vote I think for now if somebody 624 00:24:43,039 --> 00:24:48,320 turned 18 in in after the 7th of May 625 00:24:46,279 --> 00:24:49,640 they'd have to wait 5 years to vote in 626 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,720 the general election I think that's 627 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:53,080 absolutely absurd I think if you can tax 628 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,919 people then why shouldn't they be part 629 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,520 of the decision-making process of who 630 00:24:54,919 --> 00:24:58,520 runs our councils and who runs our 631 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,640 country I think it's absolutely right 632 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,799 young people should be allowed to vote 633 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,799 and we will lower the voting age if we 634 00:25:01,799 --> 00:25:05,240 are successful as a government Mt as 635 00:25:03,799 --> 00:25:08,720 aine if elected would you support 636 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:10,919 lowering the voting age to 16 uh I'm I'm 637 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:13,440 not convinced that I've not heard any 638 00:25:10,919 --> 00:25:15,840 strong arguments to say say that um a 639 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:17,720 16y old should be allowed to vote um 640 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,360 just because you pay tax I mean people 641 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,080 do part-time work when they're 12 are we 642 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:23,080 going to say that um are we going to 643 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,840 allow them to vote so I I don't I don't 644 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:27,799 think that I've heard a convincing 645 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:31,320 argument yet to support to support the 646 00:25:27,799 --> 00:25:34,279 lowering of um uh uh uh the voting age 647 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:36,440 to 16 at the moment it's 18 you go to 648 00:25:34,279 --> 00:25:38,120 university I think it's a it's an age 649 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:40,399 where you get engaged in the political 650 00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:42,480 process I'm quite happy to to leave the 651 00:25:40,399 --> 00:25:44,640 voting age at 18 George Galloway do you 652 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:47,720 support lowering the voting age to 16 653 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:49,880 well we wouldn't want MTR to uh link the 654 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:52,240 right to vote with the paying of taxes 655 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:57,159 cuz that would rule a lot of your Chums 656 00:25:52,240 --> 00:26:00,240 uh in the city out of uh of the voting 657 00:25:57,159 --> 00:26:00,240 uh process 658 00:26:01,039 --> 00:26:06,520 you can get married you can join the 659 00:26:03,279 --> 00:26:09,240 Army you can work you can leave school 660 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:12,960 you can work and pay tax at the age of 661 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:16,279 16 you should now you should always have 662 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:20,720 been able to vote at 663 00:26:16,279 --> 00:26:23,000 16 Ed Sanderson liberal Democrat would 664 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:25,279 you support lowering the vo in age to 16 665 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,960 well mtz's answers just summed up the 666 00:26:25,279 --> 00:26:28,720 frustration we had because if it wasn't 667 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,320 for the conservatives opposition it 668 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:32,320 would already have been policy under 669 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:34,360 this coalition government couldn't the 670 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:35,840 libdems have done that anyway um well we 671 00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:38,600 we pushed very hard but we were blocked 672 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,960 by the conservatives um you know it was 673 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,760 it was it was something we really would 674 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:45,960 have wanted to push through but they dug 675 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:48,440 their heels in um you know we we we 676 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:52,279 tried but but we we couldn't we couldn't 677 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:54,279 do it unfortunately um so yes I mean 678 00:26:52,279 --> 00:26:56,320 it's been our policy for for for for 679 00:26:54,279 --> 00:26:58,880 decades to have votes of 16 for for the 680 00:26:56,320 --> 00:27:01,760 reasons that for reasons given um 681 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:04,000 already I I think no taxation without 682 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:05,760 representation is is is is a centuries 683 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:08,159 old philosophy and it should apply in 684 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:10,679 the UK as well and this is this is this 685 00:27:08,159 --> 00:27:14,640 is almost this Catch 22 situation you've 686 00:27:10,679 --> 00:27:17,360 got to have a democracy to to increase 687 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:19,640 voter voter interest and V thank you 688 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:20,520 yeah so that's I in fact just give me a 689 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:21,640 moment because I want to bring the 690 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,559 audience in because I think you've all 691 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:26,760 had you say on whether it should be 692 00:27:23,559 --> 00:27:28,360 lowered to 16 so 3 to one on the panel 693 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:31,279 let's have a show of hands who would 694 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:34,960 lower the voting age to 16 in our 695 00:27:31,279 --> 00:27:37,600 audience and who wouldn't so an 696 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:39,320 overwhelming majority it is fair to say 697 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,720 in the audience here in Bradford this 698 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:44,519 evening would support lowering the 699 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:46,960 voting age to 16 um simran do you want 700 00:27:44,519 --> 00:27:48,320 to just come back on on that soon as you 701 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:51,000 asked the question on what you've heard 702 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:52,799 from from our panel um well I think in 703 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,279 terms of my point of view because as the 704 00:27:52,799 --> 00:27:56,000 UK youth parament we've been campaigning 705 00:27:54,279 --> 00:27:57,559 on campaigning on this issue for three 706 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,360 years and the conservatives really need 707 00:27:57,559 --> 00:28:02,919 to open their because 60 and 70 old are 708 00:28:00,360 --> 00:28:04,399 labeled as immature as irresponsible and 709 00:28:02,919 --> 00:28:06,159 look how many young people are here 710 00:28:04,399 --> 00:28:08,960 today I I definitely don't see this as a 711 00:28:06,159 --> 00:28:09,960 sign of disengagement or so I I 712 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,100 definitely think that conservatives 713 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,519 really need to open their 714 00:28:11,100 --> 00:28:15,640 [Applause] 715 00:28:12,519 --> 00:28:18,159 eyes siman Jan do with that question 716 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:19,880 there if if those who put their hands up 717 00:28:18,159 --> 00:28:22,640 could keep their hands up again we've 718 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:24,760 got a hand up here why do you think it's 719 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:27,120 important that the voting age should be 720 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:29,559 lower to 16 um if you're going to 721 00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:31,399 University 16 and 17 year olds they're 722 00:28:29,559 --> 00:28:33,600 the ones who are applying for University 723 00:28:31,399 --> 00:28:35,840 surely if the 16 and 17 year olds had a 724 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:38,679 voice the conservatives would hear that 725 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:40,440 voice um and if they had the vote maybe 726 00:28:38,679 --> 00:28:42,840 there would have been a strong push for 727 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:45,200 the lib Dems and their Tory Chums to not 728 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:47,760 raise the uni fees thank you you're 729 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:50,360 listening to BBC Radio leads it's our 730 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:52,760 election debate here in Bradford this 731 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,840 evening questions from the floor as we 732 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:57,760 discuss engagement young and old 733 00:28:54,840 --> 00:29:00,679 firsttime voters ahead of the 7th of May 734 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:02,440 and the general election 2015 and let's 735 00:29:00,679 --> 00:29:05,720 get our next question now please to move 736 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:08,159 us on our so our next question is by 737 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:09,880 Mike Brown Mike Brown is a civil servant 738 00:29:08,159 --> 00:29:12,200 from Bradford and Mike if you could ask 739 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:14,200 your question please he uh what could be 740 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:16,760 achieved if the MPS of West Yorkshire 741 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:18,559 work together to help the region what 742 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:20,080 could be achieved if the MPS of West 743 00:29:18,559 --> 00:29:23,279 Yorkshire work together to help the 744 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:25,519 region George Galloway well I pledged my 745 00:29:23,279 --> 00:29:28,360 backing to Jerry sutliffe my 746 00:29:25,519 --> 00:29:31,840 parliamentary colleague for many decades 747 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:36,679 but a labor MP I pledged my support for 748 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:39,720 him as the head of a supercharged 749 00:29:36,679 --> 00:29:42,000 turbocharged West Yorkshire devolved 750 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:45,159 Authority just like the one that has 751 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:48,000 been given to Manchester and I think 752 00:29:45,159 --> 00:29:50,600 Jerry Sutcliffe as a labor man a real 753 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:53,919 labor man would be the ideal person to 754 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:56,760 lead that and we absolutely need that 755 00:29:53,919 --> 00:29:58,559 we're not just being left behind so far 756 00:29:56,760 --> 00:30:00,760 as the south is concerned 757 00:29:58,559 --> 00:30:03,240 we're also being left behind so far as 758 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:05,480 the north is concerned and Manchester if 759 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:08,919 we're not careful will become another 760 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:12,120 London and we here in the Leeds Bradford 761 00:30:08,919 --> 00:30:15,600 conurbation will be the losers so I've 762 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:19,080 said before at hustings we need to get 763 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:23,080 our act together to be campaigners 764 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:26,559 United for that super Authority and for 765 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:30,200 me the airport as was joked earlier is 766 00:30:26,559 --> 00:30:32,720 called leads hyen Bradford we need that 767 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:36,120 hyphenation you know in the United 768 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:39,440 States Dallas hyphen Fort Worth St 769 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:42,480 Paul's hyphen Minneapolis we need to be 770 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:44,519 leads hyphen Bradford and we'll all be 771 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,679 better off if we can unite around that 772 00:30:44,519 --> 00:30:50,080 program let's get 773 00:30:46,679 --> 00:30:51,600 NASA's thoughts on Northern Powerhouse I 774 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:53,399 guess is the is the phrase does the 775 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:55,279 leads Bradford and why the West 776 00:30:53,399 --> 00:30:57,320 Yorkshire area need to be a northern 777 00:30:55,279 --> 00:30:59,360 Powerhouse absolutely I think it's 778 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:01,799 really really fair and and just that we 779 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:03,799 do have devolved powers and if we had a 780 00:31:01,799 --> 00:31:05,960 labor government certainly we would be 781 00:31:03,799 --> 00:31:07,320 devolving six billion Pro bels we would 782 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:08,559 also be having Regional banking 783 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:11,000 structures which would support the 784 00:31:08,559 --> 00:31:13,159 growth of local businesses so I think if 785 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:14,600 we did have and it depends in terms of a 786 00:31:13,159 --> 00:31:16,799 question was how what would could we 787 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:19,279 achieve together if we return a labor 788 00:31:16,799 --> 00:31:21,120 government in in on May the 7th where 789 00:31:19,279 --> 00:31:23,080 when we have those powerhouses when we 790 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:25,039 have that 6 billion when we have the 791 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:27,399 regional Banks there is nothing stopping 792 00:31:25,039 --> 00:31:29,320 people from working together I think you 793 00:31:27,399 --> 00:31:30,760 know unit uned we are a stronger voice 794 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,720 to make sure that we bring the 795 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:34,360 investment where it's needed we have two 796 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:36,480 of the most deprived Wards right here in 797 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:38,919 Bradford I think it's fair I think it's 798 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:40,919 absolutely right that we join forces and 799 00:31:38,919 --> 00:31:42,240 argue the case for the resources where 800 00:31:40,919 --> 00:31:44,159 they matter the most in terms of 801 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:46,840 education at the moment we don't have 802 00:31:44,159 --> 00:31:49,480 that resource we have had higher Cuts in 803 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:51,360 that that north south divide is so real 804 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:53,760 we have growth what people don't know 805 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:56,799 what to do with down south and here we 806 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:59,000 have cut backs at over 00 per head in 807 00:31:56,799 --> 00:32:00,760 comparison to less than so yes I think 808 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:02,440 we could achieve a whole great deal 809 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:03,760 we're talking working together something 810 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:05,919 that the conservatives and liberal 811 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:10,000 Democrats have had to do over the past 812 00:32:05,919 --> 00:32:11,760 term um Ed how do the lib Dems uh work 813 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:14,000 together with the other MPS of West 814 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:15,720 Yorkshire to help the region and it's 815 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,039 something libdems have done in councils 816 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:19,639 before as well so it's we're know 817 00:32:17,039 --> 00:32:21,919 strangers to Coalition even before 2010 818 00:32:19,639 --> 00:32:24,960 um libdems are committed to the idea of 819 00:32:21,919 --> 00:32:27,600 of of localism of devolution of of of of 820 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:29,960 bringing power as close to local people 821 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:32,120 as possible because we're best place to 822 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:34,200 make decisions that affect um our 823 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:36,279 education our Health Service the M 824 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:37,880 issues that matter to most we take a 825 00:32:36,279 --> 00:32:39,559 different stance from West Yorkshire 826 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:41,000 though um our Yorkshire liberal 827 00:32:39,559 --> 00:32:42,519 Democrats believe that we should have a 828 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:44,919 Yorkshire Parliament elected for the 829 00:32:42,519 --> 00:32:46,320 whole of the Yorkshire region um but 830 00:32:44,919 --> 00:32:47,960 should that should have exactly the same 831 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:50,320 power as the Scottish Parliament does in 832 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:52,799 holywood so that's with tax varying 833 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:54,720 Powers that's with control over over 834 00:32:52,799 --> 00:32:57,559 health and education because we have the 835 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:59,799 same population as Scotland um we should 836 00:32:57,559 --> 00:33:01,159 have the the same uh size economy as 837 00:32:59,799 --> 00:33:03,320 Scotland and we should we should be able 838 00:33:01,159 --> 00:33:04,760 to fight for Yorkshire interests I agree 839 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,480 with George's worrying that there's not 840 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:09,000 just a north south divide there may well 841 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:10,600 be a Northwest Yorkshire divide as well 842 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,360 and I think Yorkshire as a whole County 843 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,519 not just West Yorkshire should come 844 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:15,000 together and we should share the skills 845 00:33:13,519 --> 00:33:16,480 that they have in the humba share the 846 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,639 skills they have in South Yorkshire as 847 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:20,200 well as the the agricultural skills they 848 00:33:18,639 --> 00:33:22,279 have in North Yorkshire to call come 849 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:24,559 together and build a build a lasting 850 00:33:22,279 --> 00:33:26,679 North Yorkshire Parliament but with real 851 00:33:24,559 --> 00:33:28,480 sustainable Powers Mt has a mean what 852 00:33:26,679 --> 00:33:30,559 could be achieved if the four parties 853 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,639 represented here tonight and and others 854 00:33:30,559 --> 00:33:35,159 work together to help the West Yorkshire 855 00:33:32,639 --> 00:33:36,880 region well working together obviously 856 00:33:35,159 --> 00:33:38,639 helps but I mean some of the proposal we 857 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:40,200 just heard there that's not going to 858 00:33:38,639 --> 00:33:42,720 help that's just adding a layer of 859 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:44,919 bureaucracy to what we have already but 860 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:46,760 we already have um the West Yorkshire 861 00:33:44,919 --> 00:33:49,519 combined Authority which the government 862 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:51,279 has funded to the uh considerably the 863 00:33:49,519 --> 00:33:53,720 West Yorkshire transport fund now has a 864 00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:56,519 billion pounds to distribute in our area 865 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:58,600 over the next um I think 10 OD years 866 00:33:56,519 --> 00:34:00,000 we've got hs2 that's going to be linked 867 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,559 here that's going to bring in 868 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:04,919 approximately another billion pounds 869 00:34:01,559 --> 00:34:06,919 worth of growth growth 18,000 jobs are 870 00:34:04,919 --> 00:34:09,000 going to be created as a result of that 871 00:34:06,919 --> 00:34:11,760 a half a billion economic investment 872 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:13,760 fund has been um set up here so a number 873 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:15,280 of projects have already been set up 874 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:17,480 it's not we're not starting from zero we 875 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:19,760 have got considerable growth in our area 876 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:20,960 as I said previously more jobs have been 877 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:24,760 created in Yorkshire and the whole of 878 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:26,800 France so a number of positive economic 879 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:30,639 outcomes have already taken place 880 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:32,800 working together is great um but that 881 00:34:30,639 --> 00:34:34,359 sort of proposal let's have a Yorkshire 882 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:37,800 Parliament or yeah let's have another 883 00:34:34,359 --> 00:34:39,560 layer of bureaucracy and More in on in 884 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:40,839 pretending that it's Devolution doesn't 885 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:43,040 work and it's not going to work 886 00:34:40,839 --> 00:34:45,000 Manchester why is it okay for we we 887 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:47,000 we've work the councils are working with 888 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,560 the government in Manchester much better 889 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,560 than the councils in West Yorkshire are 890 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:53,599 engaging with the government I think I 891 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:56,040 think the local the you have tell us 892 00:34:53,599 --> 00:34:57,880 more well you you have you have councils 893 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:59,200 here who are working with with with the 894 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:00,800 government in terms of the West Yorks 895 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:03,720 are combined 896 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:05,480 Authority but there's more that needs to 897 00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:06,839 be do needs to be done you you need to 898 00:35:05,480 --> 00:35:08,839 get engage with your local Authority 899 00:35:06,839 --> 00:35:10,560 with your local counselors and say look 900 00:35:08,839 --> 00:35:12,119 what are you doing for our communities 901 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:13,920 Mt has it's a contradiction you just 902 00:35:12,119 --> 00:35:15,960 can't hold you cannot hold the 903 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:18,440 contradiction of Manchester's engagement 904 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:20,560 and engagement or lead's engagement it's 905 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:22,680 just not you're not answering the 906 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:24,359 question what about the fact that 907 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:27,040 billion P can we all just make our 908 00:35:24,359 --> 00:35:28,720 points individually please let Mt answer 909 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,320 na question you you seem to be 910 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:31,920 completely overlooking the fact that we 911 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:34,720 have a West Yorkshire transport fund of 912 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:36,480 a billion pound hs2 is coming 18,000 913 00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:38,960 more jobs are going to be created a 914 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:40,200 billion pounds in grow 15 years from no 915 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:44,560 no it's not 15 years from half the 916 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:46,839 people in here will be dead by that time 917 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:48,920 you just just while we're discussing 918 00:35:46,839 --> 00:35:52,000 this point can I just finish off it's 919 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:53,960 over a period of 15 years hopefully I I 920 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:57,440 won't be dead in 15 years um I'm not 921 00:35:53,960 --> 00:36:00,280 sure about you um being let's keep this 922 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:02,800 off topic but but but but what I'm 923 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:04,359 saying is that a a considerable amount 924 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:06,839 of money has been invested in West 925 00:36:04,359 --> 00:36:08,359 Yorkshire which the panel seem to be 926 00:36:06,839 --> 00:36:10,599 conveniently forgetting and thinking 927 00:36:08,359 --> 00:36:12,520 well we seem to have no money here if 928 00:36:10,599 --> 00:36:14,520 you work together if you have the right 929 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:16,119 people elected that fund will increase 930 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:17,800 let's get the view of the audience uh 931 00:36:16,119 --> 00:36:19,480 let's first go back to Mike Brown who 932 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:20,560 actually posed the question Mike what 933 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:22,760 what have you made of what you've just 934 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:24,480 heard that the conservatives are 935 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:26,560 disconnected and have no connection with 936 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:29,560 people in your sh 937 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:29,560 whatsoever 938 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:35,040 you're listening to BBC Radio leads 939 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:37,240 we're in the die house Gallery in the 940 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:39,640 Lista building at Bradford College it's 941 00:36:37,240 --> 00:36:42,960 the second of our election debates and 942 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:45,480 let's take another question now AA so 943 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:48,119 our next question is a recorded question 944 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:50,720 by lanaa Gladhill from Leeds who sent 945 00:36:48,119 --> 00:36:54,000 this question for us hi my name is l 946 00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:56,079 Gladhill I'm 24 and I live in Leeds I'd 947 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,000 like to ask the panel this in current 948 00:36:56,079 --> 00:36:59,520 debates around the election it feels as 949 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:01,800 if the issues that matter most of young 950 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:03,800 people are not being fully addressed for 951 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:05,560 example whilst immigration ranks as a 952 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:07,880 key topic of concern for the general 953 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:10,000 population young voters do not register 954 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:11,480 the same anxiety about it are 955 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,000 politicians ignoring the fact that they 956 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:14,480 should be looking towards a politics of 957 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:17,280 tomorrow and not of politics of 958 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:21,240 yesterday mine politics of tomorrow not 959 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:25,000 of yesterday um I think the central 960 00:37:21,240 --> 00:37:27,480 theme of this uh election debate as far 961 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:29,280 as I am concerned is the economy unless 962 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:31,440 unless you have a strong economy you 963 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:34,040 cannot fund your public services you 964 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:36,160 cannot discuss education you cannot 965 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:39,359 discuss the the 966 00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:42,920 NHS you you you the starting point is a 967 00:37:39,359 --> 00:37:45,240 strong economy if we go back to 2010 and 968 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:48,160 the politics of just taxing and spending 969 00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:49,599 and insur ending up with a huge deficit 970 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:51,160 we're going to end up again where we 971 00:37:49,599 --> 00:37:52,920 can't fund our Public Services the 972 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:55,599 reason there been an element of 973 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:58,520 austerity is we had to balance the books 974 00:37:55,599 --> 00:38:00,880 we had to reduce the deficit we had to 975 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:03,079 we had to reduce a deficit year on year 976 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:07,359 to ensure that the economy works and you 977 00:38:03,079 --> 00:38:07,359 haven't done it we we are on our way 978 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:13,079 of we have we have reduced we have 979 00:38:10,599 --> 00:38:15,839 reduced the deficit by a half as a 980 00:38:13,079 --> 00:38:17,640 percentage of the GDP in two three years 981 00:38:15,839 --> 00:38:18,480 time that deficit will have disappeared 982 00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:21,040 you 983 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:22,680 all can we just ask you just to if you 984 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:24,560 want to make a point we'll try and get 985 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:27,000 to you but as I said previously 986 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:29,319 alternative isou the alternative is that 987 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:31,880 you go back to Ed Milly band and Ed 988 00:38:29,319 --> 00:38:34,240 Balls and look what they did in 989 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:36,480 2010 how how are we looking towards a 990 00:38:34,240 --> 00:38:38,119 politics of tomorrow not a that is the 991 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:39,640 politics of Tomorrow your choice is very 992 00:38:38,119 --> 00:38:41,400 simple do you want a competent 993 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:43,240 government who's going to do well with 994 00:38:41,400 --> 00:38:45,000 the economy or do you want to go back to 995 00:38:43,240 --> 00:38:46,040 2010 because the reality is there's only 996 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,520 going to be two people who are going to 997 00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:51,240 be Prime Minister David Cameron or Ed 998 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:52,720 miliband supported by the SNP and to be 999 00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:54,200 honest with Ed Milan if he fell over his 1000 00:38:52,720 --> 00:38:56,440 shoel we wouldn't laugh because he's 1001 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:58,359 that sort of character um so your choice 1002 00:38:56,440 --> 00:39:00,640 is very clear you if you want to look to 1003 00:38:58,359 --> 00:39:03,040 the future if you want a strong economy 1004 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:04,880 a vibrant economy more growth more money 1005 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:06,640 is being spent on the NHS and on public 1006 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:08,119 services you vote conservative if you 1007 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:10,119 want to go back to taxing and spending 1008 00:39:08,119 --> 00:39:12,240 you vote for Ed miliband well nasar is 1009 00:39:10,119 --> 00:39:14,440 representing labor the question is 1010 00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:17,000 should politicians be looking towards a 1011 00:39:14,440 --> 00:39:19,119 politics of tomorrow not a politics of 1012 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:21,040 yesterday our question from Lor and your 1013 00:39:19,119 --> 00:39:22,880 answer for her please I think it's 1014 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:24,760 really we we can't ignore why we're in 1015 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:27,000 the crisis and I I I do take issue with 1016 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:28,960 the point what we did in 2010 because 1017 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:30,880 let's B the banking crisis was not down 1018 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:33,920 to the labor government it was a banking 1019 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:37,319 crisis and let's be 1020 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:39,359 clear let's also be clear in terms of 1021 00:39:37,319 --> 00:39:42,000 the bankers bonuses or the banks being 1022 00:39:39,359 --> 00:39:44,040 taxed or the bank those those um Rich 1023 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:46,280 offshore accounts are more Tory friends 1024 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:48,920 than they are labors let's also be clear 1025 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:51,040 that the Tory government could have F 1026 00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:53,040 closed down lots of loopholes in terms 1027 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:54,520 of a tax evasion that's going on but you 1028 00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:55,880 have refused to do that so you could 1029 00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:58,040 have bought that deficit down you could 1030 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:59,200 have bought billions into economy but 1031 00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:00,640 you haven't done that you've sat on your 1032 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:02,599 laurels and thought you know what let 1033 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:04,280 the rich get richer and at the expense 1034 00:40:02,599 --> 00:40:07,119 of the poor that's that's what's 1035 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:10,440 happened in this last government we 1036 00:40:07,119 --> 00:40:12,319 have we have another five years of bori 1037 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:14,720 bori government who and you haven't 1038 00:40:12,319 --> 00:40:16,520 balanced the book so whilst Ed Milan 1039 00:40:14,720 --> 00:40:18,520 might not tie shoelaces I'm not sure 1040 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:21,000 David Cameron could do the strapons but 1041 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:23,760 hey ho you know let's 1042 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:26,119 um your three years and that's the three 1043 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:27,520 years that you're saying with your FIS 1044 00:40:26,119 --> 00:40:29,520 which with your Manifesto which which is 1045 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:30,920 not fiscal we are saying we are not 1046 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:33,040 borrowing we are not committed to any 1047 00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:35,520 more borrowing we will balance the books 1048 00:40:33,040 --> 00:40:37,119 we will keep the NHS we will repeal the 1049 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:38,520 Health and Social Care Act we walk 1050 00:40:37,119 --> 00:40:40,319 privatize it through the back door which 1051 00:40:38,520 --> 00:40:43,119 is what's happening at the moment so do 1052 00:40:40,319 --> 00:40:46,200 you know what 1053 00:40:43,119 --> 00:40:48,800 I in terms of looking at today we need 1054 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:52,119 to protect what is there we need to look 1055 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:53,480 after the NHS we need to make do with 1056 00:40:52,119 --> 00:40:55,359 the sanctions that you've put which 1057 00:40:53,480 --> 00:40:57,839 penalize the poor the most which have 1058 00:40:55,359 --> 00:40:59,760 affected let's abolish the bedroom tax 1059 00:40:57,839 --> 00:41:01,760 let's tax The Mansions let's tax and 1060 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:03,319 Levy the tobacco companies let's bring 1061 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:05,920 in money where we should be bringing it 1062 00:41:03,319 --> 00:41:08,200 in from and not penalize vs that are 1063 00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:10,160 already at risk of being penalized and 1064 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:11,400 already live below the poverty line yes 1065 00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:12,160 thank you very much I want to move on to 1066 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:14,920 Ed 1067 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:16,800 Sanderson Ed how are you and the liberal 1068 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:18,839 Democrats uh going to answer the 1069 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:20,599 question posed by Lor from Leeds yeah I 1070 00:41:18,839 --> 00:41:22,160 mean the question was how we focus on 1071 00:41:20,599 --> 00:41:23,720 the politics of Tomorrow rather than the 1072 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:25,480 politics of yesterday I think the 1073 00:41:23,720 --> 00:41:27,440 politics of yesterday revolves a lot 1074 00:41:25,480 --> 00:41:29,240 around personal attacks and I think a 1075 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:30,920 lot of personal attacks particularly 1076 00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:32,760 around in Miller Band you know whether 1077 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:34,560 about you can tie a shoelaces or not or 1078 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:36,680 whether you can eat a bacon sandwiches 1079 00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:39,800 is you know quite frankly 1080 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:42,079 disgusting um I think this disc on the 1081 00:41:39,800 --> 00:41:43,520 debate on immigration is also I'm 1082 00:41:42,079 --> 00:41:44,760 speaking I think as the youngest person 1083 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:46,280 on the panel but I speak I hope I speak 1084 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:49,440 for everybody in the room just out of 1085 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:51,520 date and um has no place in in in 1086 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:54,280 certainly speaking for anyone really of 1087 00:41:51,520 --> 00:41:56,560 of my age group as well I don't like how 1088 00:41:54,280 --> 00:41:58,280 both the conservative and labor party 1089 00:41:56,560 --> 00:42:00,359 people who labor party in particular 1090 00:41:58,280 --> 00:42:02,599 which used to be a progressive party now 1091 00:42:00,359 --> 00:42:05,000 says in Stony faces that we must talk 1092 00:42:02,599 --> 00:42:08,240 about immigration in a in a in in a in a 1093 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:11,160 very um very conservative with a SE way 1094 00:42:08,240 --> 00:42:13,760 about about it people of people of my 1095 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:15,599 generation or young people want politics 1096 00:42:13,760 --> 00:42:17,839 want to want to know that we can invest 1097 00:42:15,599 --> 00:42:20,400 in a Greener future a future where civil 1098 00:42:17,839 --> 00:42:22,640 liberties including LGBT rights are 1099 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:24,319 protected and thank you I want to ask 1100 00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:25,880 the same question to George Galloway are 1101 00:42:24,319 --> 00:42:27,680 politicians ignoring the fact that they 1102 00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:29,319 should be looking towards the politics 1103 00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:31,000 of tomorrow not a politics of yesterday 1104 00:42:29,319 --> 00:42:33,160 well it's pretty embarrassing I must say 1105 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:35,400 as uh listeners will already have 1106 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:38,359 concluded the kind of nonsense we've 1107 00:42:35,400 --> 00:42:40,240 just been listening to the conservatives 1108 00:42:38,359 --> 00:42:44,280 and the liberal Democrats have put us 1109 00:42:40,240 --> 00:42:47,079 through 5 years of austerity hell and 1110 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:49,319 they're still borrowing more money than 1111 00:42:47,079 --> 00:42:52,280 they were when they started all this 1112 00:42:49,319 --> 00:42:55,440 Guff about the deficit and so on you're 1113 00:42:52,280 --> 00:42:59,400 borrowing more than you were when you 1114 00:42:55,440 --> 00:43:03,800 started and we have all about us the 1115 00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:06,680 ruin of your austerity policies you have 1116 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:10,400 cut taxes for the richest people and cut 1117 00:43:06,680 --> 00:43:13,720 services for the poorest people and the 1118 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:17,200 question from Lorna is a very powerful 1119 00:43:13,720 --> 00:43:20,599 one young people are not talking about 1120 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:24,400 immigration it is not high on their list 1121 00:43:20,599 --> 00:43:27,119 of priorities it's people like you oddly 1122 00:43:24,400 --> 00:43:29,680 that are trying to make them fear if 1123 00:43:27,119 --> 00:43:32,000 immigration fear immigrants it's people 1124 00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:35,200 like you who are going to plunge Us in 2 1125 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:37,599 years into a referendum that might lead 1126 00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:40,000 to us leaving the European Union with 1127 00:43:37,599 --> 00:43:43,079 the loss of hundreds of thousands of 1128 00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:45,400 jobs in this area and yet no young 1129 00:43:43,079 --> 00:43:47,400 person wants to leave the European Union 1130 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:49,400 virtually none you could take a poll 1131 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:51,319 here no one in the right mind wants to 1132 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:54,599 leave the European Union but you're 1133 00:43:51,319 --> 00:43:57,119 making it an election issue and NZ you 1134 00:43:54,599 --> 00:43:59,960 weren't in the labor party in 2010 you 1135 00:43:57,119 --> 00:44:05,640 only joined it 12 months ago I was in it 1136 00:43:59,960 --> 00:44:08,480 for 36 years 36 years and I was in 1137 00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:11,920 Parliament when the banking crash or C 1138 00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:14,880 in 2008 and I warned them then that 1139 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:17,880 giving hundreds of billions of pounds to 1140 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:19,280 private Banks was not the answer to the 1141 00:44:17,880 --> 00:44:20,720 crash George I want to cut in because I 1142 00:44:19,280 --> 00:44:22,760 want to ask the audience I want to ask 1143 00:44:20,720 --> 00:44:24,880 them the same question uh and we'll hand 1144 00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:26,559 over to AA for that so I wanted to ask 1145 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:28,920 the audience uh if there's any young 1146 00:44:26,559 --> 00:44:30,680 person here and who has strong views 1147 00:44:28,920 --> 00:44:33,119 about the EU membership whether they 1148 00:44:30,680 --> 00:44:35,559 want to be in or out we've got a hand 1149 00:44:33,119 --> 00:44:37,119 here thank you uh Lily mtag I'm from 1150 00:44:35,559 --> 00:44:38,800 Bradford East yeah I think it's really 1151 00:44:37,119 --> 00:44:40,839 important we stay in the EU we're facing 1152 00:44:38,800 --> 00:44:43,400 more and more Global crisis like global 1153 00:44:40,839 --> 00:44:45,559 warming like climate change and unless 1154 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:47,000 we work together on those issues um with 1155 00:44:45,559 --> 00:44:48,280 as many countries as possible we're 1156 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:50,400 never going to be able to face them so 1157 00:44:48,280 --> 00:44:51,920 it's not just about economics it's about 1158 00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:54,480 global issues like the immigrants as 1159 00:44:51,920 --> 00:44:56,280 well coming uh drowning in horrible 1160 00:44:54,480 --> 00:44:58,319 conditions in the Mediterranean we've 1161 00:44:56,280 --> 00:45:00,000 got to work together we can't just bail 1162 00:44:58,319 --> 00:45:02,640 out on that if I could just get a quick 1163 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:04,400 fire run through a quick fire run 1164 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:06,000 through the panel if we're talking about 1165 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:08,760 engagement we're talking about young 1166 00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:11,079 voters the one topic that is top of the 1167 00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:14,119 list in your opinion for young voters 1168 00:45:11,079 --> 00:45:16,119 education jobs why Nas I think education 1169 00:45:14,119 --> 00:45:18,760 in terms of young people University have 1170 00:45:16,119 --> 00:45:20,160 coming out of colleges having technical 1171 00:45:18,760 --> 00:45:22,359 what we're proposing is technical 1172 00:45:20,160 --> 00:45:24,000 degrees what people don't have is jobs 1173 00:45:22,359 --> 00:45:25,880 at the moment there's no businesses out 1174 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:27,880 there under the last 5 years we've lost 1175 00:45:25,880 --> 00:45:29,920 so many people sort so many businesses 1176 00:45:27,880 --> 00:45:31,920 so many job losses and it is a real 1177 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:34,359 concern and that if you have a young 1178 00:45:31,920 --> 00:45:36,760 person who has a job that affects their 1179 00:45:34,359 --> 00:45:38,640 wellbeing mental health all of it it it 1180 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:40,359 really the income is a massive issue Ed 1181 00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:41,760 with quick fire here yeah further 1182 00:45:40,359 --> 00:45:42,720 education particular apprenticeships 1183 00:45:41,760 --> 00:45:45,160 we've already doubled the number of 1184 00:45:42,720 --> 00:45:47,040 apprentices in the past uh past year 90% 1185 00:45:45,160 --> 00:45:48,680 of which lead to full-time jobs we want 1186 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:51,520 to do even more on the next Parliament 1187 00:45:48,680 --> 00:45:54,359 George Well labor introduced tuition 1188 00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:56,280 fees for all the students listening and 1189 00:45:54,359 --> 00:45:57,440 the Tories and the liberal Democrats 1190 00:45:56,280 --> 00:46:00,119 trebled them 1191 00:45:57,440 --> 00:46:02,359 labor presides over Bradford Schools 1192 00:46:00,119 --> 00:46:03,720 which are second bottom of the National 1193 00:46:02,359 --> 00:46:08,680 League 1194 00:46:03,720 --> 00:46:11,079 154th out of 155 so don't look to any of 1195 00:46:08,680 --> 00:46:14,599 Tweedle D Tweedle Dum or Tweedle d and a 1196 00:46:11,079 --> 00:46:14,599 half because they don't have the 1197 00:46:14,720 --> 00:46:19,839 answer has me the most the most 1198 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:22,160 important thing that a young person 1199 00:46:19,839 --> 00:46:23,760 should be looking towards is a job if a 1200 00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:28,319 person goes to University and cannot 1201 00:46:23,760 --> 00:46:30,520 find a job he feels that the three years 1202 00:46:28,319 --> 00:46:32,599 have been wasted or if a person doesn't 1203 00:46:30,520 --> 00:46:34,720 do do an apprenticeship and doesn't find 1204 00:46:32,599 --> 00:46:37,599 secure employment and that is why we 1205 00:46:34,720 --> 00:46:39,960 have made absolute priority to ensure 1206 00:46:37,599 --> 00:46:41,640 that youth unemployment has come down we 1207 00:46:39,960 --> 00:46:43,599 there are more jobs now than there has 1208 00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:45,240 ever been a person going to University 1209 00:46:43,599 --> 00:46:47,359 is more likely to find a job after 1210 00:46:45,240 --> 00:46:48,680 graduation 2 million apprenticeships 1211 00:46:47,359 --> 00:46:50,200 have been created in The Last 5 Years 1212 00:46:48,680 --> 00:46:53,720 we're committed to creating another 3 1213 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:56,400 million apprenti ships so the security 1214 00:46:53,720 --> 00:46:59,160 of a job and that allowing them to buy 1215 00:46:56,400 --> 00:47:01,000 their own home and um that is the 1216 00:46:59,160 --> 00:47:03,200 priority a young person should be should 1217 00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:04,880 should have thank you know that's that's 1218 00:47:03,200 --> 00:47:07,280 we've tried to keep it very brief on on 1219 00:47:04,880 --> 00:47:09,599 that point there let's take another 1220 00:47:07,280 --> 00:47:11,200 question from the audience and AA we've 1221 00:47:09,599 --> 00:47:13,599 got Dave Forest here with a question 1222 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:16,559 what's your question Dave my question is 1223 00:47:13,599 --> 00:47:19,400 about University tuition fees and is it 1224 00:47:16,559 --> 00:47:22,839 right that students are forced into 1225 00:47:19,400 --> 00:47:25,640 44,000 Worth or more of debt when we 1226 00:47:22,839 --> 00:47:28,520 know that 73% of them will never ever 1227 00:47:25,640 --> 00:47:29,270 pay it back how will your party solve 1228 00:47:28,520 --> 00:47:32,119 this 1229 00:47:29,270 --> 00:47:34,880 [Applause] 1230 00:47:32,119 --> 00:47:36,760 issue we are in a a college is part of 1231 00:47:34,880 --> 00:47:39,240 the University here in Bradford lots of 1232 00:47:36,760 --> 00:47:41,359 students in our audience Ed Sanderson 1233 00:47:39,240 --> 00:47:43,599 from the liberal Democrats no I don't 1234 00:47:41,359 --> 00:47:45,760 think it's right and I think um the Liv 1235 00:47:43,599 --> 00:47:47,280 de major ship made a huge mistake not 1236 00:47:45,760 --> 00:47:49,119 just politically because obviously we've 1237 00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:51,319 we've suffered on the polls but I think 1238 00:47:49,119 --> 00:47:53,319 practically um I was a candidate the 1239 00:47:51,319 --> 00:47:55,079 last election I signed the pledge as 1240 00:47:53,319 --> 00:47:56,880 well um I would have voted against the 1241 00:47:55,079 --> 00:48:01,040 government in the way that other MPS did 1242 00:47:56,880 --> 00:48:04,400 did not enough MPS did um I believe in 1243 00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:07,280 fore education um university for 1244 00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:08,880 University students um we weren't we 1245 00:48:07,280 --> 00:48:11,559 weren't we weren't allowed to we weren't 1246 00:48:08,880 --> 00:48:14,160 we weren't able to do that um and I 1247 00:48:11,559 --> 00:48:17,280 think it was a huge mistake what we 1248 00:48:14,160 --> 00:48:19,000 should focus now is now on the issue of 1249 00:48:17,280 --> 00:48:21,079 affordability now this isn't a 1250 00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:23,599 justification this is an explanation of 1251 00:48:21,079 --> 00:48:25,720 course there's no no nothing no money to 1252 00:48:23,599 --> 00:48:27,720 pay up front for tuition um and of 1253 00:48:25,720 --> 00:48:30,079 course you start earning money back only 1254 00:48:27,720 --> 00:48:32,359 once you earn £21,000 I have to say 1255 00:48:30,079 --> 00:48:34,920 Labor's plan for 6,000 fees it sounds 1256 00:48:32,359 --> 00:48:36,520 like a fee reduction effectively and and 1257 00:48:34,920 --> 00:48:38,440 the question hinted at this because you 1258 00:48:36,520 --> 00:48:40,680 don't have to pay back all of the 1259 00:48:38,440 --> 00:48:43,319 £99,000 unless you start off on a very 1260 00:48:40,680 --> 00:48:45,319 high salary labor plan for £6,000 1261 00:48:43,319 --> 00:48:47,520 tuition fees actually represent a tax 1262 00:48:45,319 --> 00:48:48,760 break for very high earning graduates 1263 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:49,960 well let's get the labor point of view 1264 00:48:48,760 --> 00:48:52,079 because I'm very mindful of the time 1265 00:48:49,960 --> 00:48:55,599 Nasha tuition phase we we have pledged 1266 00:48:52,079 --> 00:48:57,040 to cut them by £3,000 um and we will 1267 00:48:55,599 --> 00:48:58,640 Implement that as soon as we are in 1268 00:48:57,040 --> 00:49:01,400 government let's be clear at the moment 1269 00:48:58,640 --> 00:49:03,920 it's 44,000 if we reduce that to 6,000 1270 00:49:01,400 --> 00:49:05,839 the average debt will be 21,000 looking 1271 00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:08,760 at the statistics at the moment over 20 1272 00:49:05,839 --> 00:49:10,559 years we have a debt of 261 billion at 1273 00:49:08,760 --> 00:49:13,119 the moment which the government will end 1274 00:49:10,559 --> 00:49:15,079 up footing so let's give some relief and 1275 00:49:13,119 --> 00:49:16,960 let's give people a Cho a chance to 1276 00:49:15,079 --> 00:49:18,839 actually get on the job market and repay 1277 00:49:16,960 --> 00:49:20,520 some of that and let's be clear that 1278 00:49:18,839 --> 00:49:22,960 people don't have to pay that back until 1279 00:49:20,520 --> 00:49:25,480 they earning a certain amount so there 1280 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:27,319 is there is a there is a system in place 1281 00:49:25,480 --> 00:49:29,240 so you won't be asked to pay pay back so 1282 00:49:27,319 --> 00:49:31,160 much if you're only earning £10,000 a 1283 00:49:29,240 --> 00:49:32,799 year for examp George now if we can just 1284 00:49:31,160 --> 00:49:34,760 get the responses of the panel first 1285 00:49:32,799 --> 00:49:36,280 please we we can come to the audience in 1286 00:49:34,760 --> 00:49:38,359 a moment but I just do want to get the 1287 00:49:36,280 --> 00:49:40,319 responses of the panel George Galloway 1288 00:49:38,359 --> 00:49:42,880 what what what his respect matics 1289 00:49:40,319 --> 00:49:47,559 mathematics is obviously not n as 1290 00:49:42,880 --> 00:49:50,240 strongest Point um the neither neither 1291 00:49:47,559 --> 00:49:53,240 neither is history I never went to 1292 00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:56,720 University I worked from the age of 16 1293 00:49:53,240 --> 00:49:59,680 to send Blair and the other new labor 1294 00:49:56,720 --> 00:50:02,720 leaders to University entirely free of 1295 00:49:59,680 --> 00:50:05,119 charge and gave them a student grant to 1296 00:50:02,720 --> 00:50:07,240 enjoy it with and as soon as Tony Blair 1297 00:50:05,119 --> 00:50:10,799 got into Power he kicked that ladder 1298 00:50:07,240 --> 00:50:13,440 away from this generation and from their 1299 00:50:10,799 --> 00:50:15,640 children I voted against the 1300 00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:18,119 introduction of tuition fees I had a 1301 00:50:15,640 --> 00:50:20,319 standup row with the labor Chief whip 1302 00:50:18,119 --> 00:50:23,359 who said to me it's only 1303 00:50:20,319 --> 00:50:26,119 £1,000 I said it's the principle if 1304 00:50:23,359 --> 00:50:28,599 we've got money to spend on nuclear 1305 00:50:26,119 --> 00:50:31,640 weapons on invading other people's 1306 00:50:28,599 --> 00:50:34,799 countries and setting them on fire we've 1307 00:50:31,640 --> 00:50:38,000 got money to pay for the education of 1308 00:50:34,799 --> 00:50:40,920 our children labor wants to cut them 1309 00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:44,280 down to 6,000 which Naas thinks will 1310 00:50:40,920 --> 00:50:46,480 have them in fact it's a third and the 1311 00:50:44,280 --> 00:50:50,160 Tories and the liberal Democrats will 1312 00:50:46,480 --> 00:50:53,000 continue them at 9,000 respect says the 1313 00:50:50,160 --> 00:50:56,040 government the state the taxpayer should 1314 00:50:53,000 --> 00:50:57,640 pay for education for our children and 1315 00:50:56,040 --> 00:51:02,319 for the children at 1316 00:50:57,640 --> 00:51:05,240 University m a mean Mt a mean your your 1317 00:51:02,319 --> 00:51:07,280 views Tory views on tuition fees please 1318 00:51:05,240 --> 00:51:10,520 our policy is that they will remain at 1319 00:51:07,280 --> 00:51:13,240 £9,000 um it funds the universities it 1320 00:51:10,520 --> 00:51:14,640 funds the universities and it ensures 1321 00:51:13,240 --> 00:51:16,559 that universities are able to provide 1322 00:51:14,640 --> 00:51:18,599 the best Services we're competing in a 1323 00:51:16,559 --> 00:51:21,400 global economy we have to fund our 1324 00:51:18,599 --> 00:51:24,319 univers universities so that they able 1325 00:51:21,400 --> 00:51:26,760 to compete the policy of reducing tution 1326 00:51:24,319 --> 00:51:28,480 fees to £6,000 at Labor is seeking to 1327 00:51:26,760 --> 00:51:31,200 introduce will help the richest 1328 00:51:28,480 --> 00:51:33,200 graduates not those at the lower end 1329 00:51:31,200 --> 00:51:35,599 because the amount the as as was as the 1330 00:51:33,200 --> 00:51:37,520 questioner has just said 73% will not be 1331 00:51:35,599 --> 00:51:39,760 repaying their debt those who are 1332 00:51:37,520 --> 00:51:40,799 earning the least amount grad those 1333 00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:42,680 graduates who are earning the least 1334 00:51:40,799 --> 00:51:45,520 amount will not be repaying their their 1335 00:51:42,680 --> 00:51:47,559 uh tuition fees and I think we have to 1336 00:51:45,520 --> 00:51:49,400 get we have to be serious about this in 1337 00:51:47,559 --> 00:51:51,040 the sense that if we are going to 1338 00:51:49,400 --> 00:51:53,119 compete globally we're going to have to 1339 00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:55,520 fund our universities and it also gives 1340 00:51:53,119 --> 00:51:58,799 responsibility to the students that they 1341 00:51:55,520 --> 00:52:00,640 are having to pay for education is 1342 00:51:58,799 --> 00:52:02,000 something they should value it should 1343 00:52:00,640 --> 00:52:04,480 well let's hear from those students 1344 00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:06,319 because um ARA from BCB is with us in 1345 00:52:04,480 --> 00:52:08,040 the audience can you just find us a 1346 00:52:06,319 --> 00:52:10,079 couple of students just to get their 1347 00:52:08,040 --> 00:52:11,839 thoughts as we start to wrap up on 1348 00:52:10,079 --> 00:52:13,640 tuition fees please we've got a student 1349 00:52:11,839 --> 00:52:16,160 here would you like to say your name uh 1350 00:52:13,640 --> 00:52:18,839 Jonathan um to encourage people to 1351 00:52:16,160 --> 00:52:20,799 succeed in life is the lesson we want to 1352 00:52:18,839 --> 00:52:23,079 teach them we have to do that we have to 1353 00:52:20,799 --> 00:52:24,680 put them in massive debt but there are 1354 00:52:23,079 --> 00:52:27,079 there are more students going to 1355 00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:29,079 University now very briefly despite the 1356 00:52:27,079 --> 00:52:31,200 £99,000 fees there are more students 1357 00:52:29,079 --> 00:52:33,799 going to University than ever before so 1358 00:52:31,200 --> 00:52:35,960 that hasn't that hasn't discouraged PE 1359 00:52:33,799 --> 00:52:38,520 um students from going to University 1360 00:52:35,960 --> 00:52:40,200 true why don't we scrap Trident and 1361 00:52:38,520 --> 00:52:42,079 scrap the tuition fees wouldn't that be 1362 00:52:40,200 --> 00:52:45,880 a better thing to have the best 1363 00:52:42,079 --> 00:52:48,880 universities free of charge to our young 1364 00:52:45,880 --> 00:52:51,160 people let's have a referendum on that 1365 00:52:48,880 --> 00:52:53,000 let's ask the people in a referendum do 1366 00:52:51,160 --> 00:52:55,400 you want nuclear weapons or do you want 1367 00:52:53,000 --> 00:52:57,319 £99,000 a I want Ed's opinion I want 1368 00:52:55,400 --> 00:52:59,680 Ed's opinion we've got seconds literally 1369 00:52:57,319 --> 00:53:01,559 each head yeah there's more pupils from 1370 00:52:59,680 --> 00:53:04,000 disadvantage backgrounds going to 1371 00:53:01,559 --> 00:53:05,760 University and there's more pupils from 1372 00:53:04,000 --> 00:53:06,839 uh black and ethnic minority backgrounds 1373 00:53:05,760 --> 00:53:09,400 going to 1374 00:53:06,839 --> 00:53:10,520 University um so although I don't 1375 00:53:09,400 --> 00:53:12,280 although I've said I don't think it's 1376 00:53:10,520 --> 00:53:13,880 right to put people in debt the the new 1377 00:53:12,280 --> 00:53:15,640 policy isn't pulling people off from 1378 00:53:13,880 --> 00:53:17,720 going to University now brief word 1379 00:53:15,640 --> 00:53:19,839 finally on this first of all we have to 1380 00:53:17,720 --> 00:53:21,920 balance the book somehow and that in 1381 00:53:19,839 --> 00:53:23,559 that does in terms of a University cost 1382 00:53:21,920 --> 00:53:25,240 and that and I think in answering The 1383 00:53:23,559 --> 00:53:26,920 Young Person's question there would we 1384 00:53:25,240 --> 00:53:28,760 have cutbacks in the University 1385 00:53:26,920 --> 00:53:30,720 facilities and from a labor perspective 1386 00:53:28,760 --> 00:53:33,000 no we wouldn't what we doing we'd be 1387 00:53:30,720 --> 00:53:35,040 we'd Finance this through extra taxes so 1388 00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:37,079 it wouldn't be that we'd cut university 1389 00:53:35,040 --> 00:53:39,240 university benefits in any way shape or 1390 00:53:37,079 --> 00:53:41,520 form so no we would be cutting them back 1391 00:53:39,240 --> 00:53:43,520 and in an ideal word in an Ideal World 1392 00:53:41,520 --> 00:53:45,680 yes we would but let's at least get that 1393 00:53:43,520 --> 00:53:47,720 3,000 knocked off and let's get a li 1394 00:53:45,680 --> 00:53:49,720 let's get a final word on this and a 1395 00:53:47,720 --> 00:53:51,640 final word on tuition fees from someone 1396 00:53:49,720 --> 00:53:53,240 in the audience please yeah we've got 1397 00:53:51,640 --> 00:53:54,680 we've got Dian here would you like to 1398 00:53:53,240 --> 00:53:56,480 tell us your thoughts I'd just like to 1399 00:53:54,680 --> 00:53:58,000 know Ed how on Earth can you say that 1400 00:53:56,480 --> 00:54:00,200 more people from disprivileged 1401 00:53:58,000 --> 00:54:02,400 backgrounds have got into education when 1402 00:54:00,200 --> 00:54:05,720 you've removed EMA not just you but the 1403 00:54:02,400 --> 00:54:07,920 Tes none of you stood up to actually 1404 00:54:05,720 --> 00:54:10,720 you've stopped people from the poorest 1405 00:54:07,920 --> 00:54:12,079 incomes being able to go into education 1406 00:54:10,720 --> 00:54:14,839 and not only have you done that you've 1407 00:54:12,079 --> 00:54:16,400 then whacked him with a £99,000 fee I 1408 00:54:14,839 --> 00:54:18,480 don't agree that the labor party should 1409 00:54:16,400 --> 00:54:20,799 be at 6,000 it should be free education 1410 00:54:18,480 --> 00:54:23,599 for all knowledge is power and that's 1411 00:54:20,799 --> 00:54:25,359 how we overcome you right okay we'll get 1412 00:54:23,599 --> 00:54:27,079 Ed's response to that and then we really 1413 00:54:25,359 --> 00:54:28,839 are done for time so finally just 1414 00:54:27,079 --> 00:54:30,799 respond to that I'm say I'm saying that 1415 00:54:28,839 --> 00:54:32,440 cuz it's it's it's the it's the truth 1416 00:54:30,799 --> 00:54:33,720 there are more people from disadvantage 1417 00:54:32,440 --> 00:54:35,280 background go to university I mean I 1418 00:54:33,720 --> 00:54:37,720 know I know we might not agree you might 1419 00:54:35,280 --> 00:54:39,960 agree the statistics um the liberal 1420 00:54:37,720 --> 00:54:41,520 Democrats would introduce um other ways 1421 00:54:39,960 --> 00:54:43,640 to make it easier to get into education 1422 00:54:41,520 --> 00:54:46,040 for example we'd give a 2third discount 1423 00:54:43,640 --> 00:54:49,520 for for for all 16 to 20 year olds of 1424 00:54:46,040 --> 00:54:51,000 bus of of of bus of bus travels but it's 1425 00:54:49,520 --> 00:54:53,079 the facts I mean if you don't agree with 1426 00:54:51,000 --> 00:54:55,079 the facts thank you very much indeed and 1427 00:54:53,079 --> 00:54:57,359 thank you for all your questions as well 1428 00:54:55,079 --> 00:54:59,839 that's about it from the second of our 1429 00:54:57,359 --> 00:55:02,119 BBC Radio leads election debates here at 1430 00:54:59,839 --> 00:55:05,319 Bradford College I'd like to say a big 1431 00:55:02,119 --> 00:55:07,640 thank you to all our panel Mt Amin from 1432 00:55:05,319 --> 00:55:10,200 the conservatives George Galloway from 1433 00:55:07,640 --> 00:55:12,880 respect Ed Sanderson of the liberal 1434 00:55:10,200 --> 00:55:15,400 Democrats and Nasha 1435 00:55:12,880 --> 00:55:18,440 Leber thanks to you for listening here 1436 00:55:15,400 --> 00:55:20,119 on BBC Radio leads and a particular 1437 00:55:18,440 --> 00:55:22,400 thank you to our audience here in 1438 00:55:20,119 --> 00:55:24,960 Bradford we do have another general 1439 00:55:22,400 --> 00:55:27,160 election debate next week Liz green and 1440 00:55:24,960 --> 00:55:29,480 a panel in Halifax is as you debate the 1441 00:55:27,160 --> 00:55:34,240 Health Service I'm Richard stead and 1442 00:55:29,480 --> 00:55:34,240 from all of us here in Bradford goodbye