Central Lobby [Programme 029]

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Summary

Political magazine series. This week: interviews with four newly elected MPs; a studio debate about opinion polls; pop music on the rates in Nottingham; and Welsh nationalism.

Year:

1983

Duration:

0:32:00

Film type:

Colour / Sound

Company:

Central Television

Master format:

1 Inch Type C

Description

Programme presented by Tony Francis. On film, Jon Lander interviews Dave Nellist who is the new Labour MP for Coventry South East who recently boycotted the State Opening of Parliament in a protest against the cost of the event. Also on film, Lander talks to three other new MPs: Derek Conway (Conservative, Shrewsbury and Atcham); Clare Short (Labour, Ladywood); and David Lightbown (Conservative, Staffordshire South East).

Back in the studio there is a debate about the use of opinion polls in elections between: Peter Snape MP (Labour, West Bromwich East); Keith Parker of the Wolverhampton Express and Star newspaper; and Gordon Heale of Gallup. Snape wants opinion polls banned seven days before elections.

Next on film Len Tingle visits Nottingham where the Labour controlled city council has recently paid £16,000 for a promotional pop song to be recorded by local hit group Paper Lace (under the name Sheriff). We see a clip of the ice skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean who were also supported by the council and shots of 'Sheriff' performing their song 'Nottingham'. Group members Mick Vaughan and Phil Wright are interviewed in the city centre. Tingle also talks to Conservative councillor Bill Bradbury who describes the record as a waste of money and to Labour councillor Bill Dunwoodie who defends it.

Finally on film Rob Whitehouse visits Wales for a report about the burning of English owned holiday cottages by Welsh nationalists. We see views of Welsh countryside and archive of a cottage fire near St Davids in December 1979. Whitehouse interviews Brian and Margery Hedley from Birmingham whose cottage at Llanberis was destroyed in 1981. We tour the derelict shell of the building and there is amateur film of the cottage before the fire. Interview with Tony Heath about the Welsh nationalist group the Sons of Glendower who claim many of the fires including that of the Hedleys. Interview with Detective Chief Superintendent Gwynne Owen of Bangor Police; and local estate agent Derek Goodwin. We also see the exterior of the Bangor police headquarters. Whitehouse next visits the village of Cwm-penmachno where three quarters of homes are holiday cottages. This is blamed on the decline in local industry including the quarry which closed in 1958. Whitehouse talks to local men Bill Evans and Iowerth Jones. Finally there is an interview with Daffyd Elis Thomas MP (Plwd Cwmr) who calls for squatters to occupy the buildings which are vacant for much of the year rather than nationalists destroy them.


Credits

Graphics: Jim Chalmers
Film Editor: John McCarthy
Political Editor: Reg Harcourt
Exectutive Producer: Terry Johnston
Editor: Mike Warman
Director: Rob Harding


Notes

Production number 2889/83.