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Programme presented by Tony Francis. Reg Harcourt interviews the Labour MP for Chesterfield, Eric Varley who has decided to leave politics. He admits to being fed up with London life and reveals that he has taken a job with the local firm Coalite. Next on film Jon Lander reports about Varley’s Chesterfield seat which will now be available in a by-election. It’s is rumoured that the former Labour minister Tony Benn will stand. We see views of the town including the marked place and twisted spire. There are interviews with two local party chairs: Ken Eveleigh (Liberal); and Gloria Havenhand (Conservative), both of whom would welcome Benn standing as they predict that his left wing stance will harm Labour locally. We also see exterior views of the local NUM headquarters and a colliery (Varley was strongly supported by the miners).
The next film report looks at the Government’s plan to axe West Midlands County Council, a body set up by the Conservatives after the 1974 local government reorganisation. We see a tracking shot past County Hall in Birmingham and a map of the area covered by the council. We then see interior shots of County Hall and aerial views of Birmingham. This is followed by shots of services covered by the council: police officers; fire brigade; buses in Birmingham; briefly Birmingham Airport; shots of the Consumer Services Department which tests product safety; and the outside of Lifford Lane refuse depot. District Councils will take over these services but it is predicted that costs and bureaucracy will rise. There are interviews with: Derrick Hender, Chief Executive of the council; and the leaders of the two main political parties on the council: Alan Hope (Conservative) and Gordon Morgan (Labour).
Finally on film Rob Whitehouse visits Leicestershire for a report about the Conservative Anti Hunt Council and its director, Clive Skinner. We see Skinner talking to members of the Quorn hunt as they gather for a hunt meet. Some of the discussions become heated as Skinner attempts to hand out his anti hunting literature which tries to overturn the stereotype that all Conservatives are in favour of hunting. We also see library pictures from March 1982 of a protest by the Quorn at the headquarters of Leicestershire County Council at Glenfield against a proposal to ban hunting on council owned land. The ban was eventually thrown out. We see Skinner meeting the Conservative head of the council who disputes Skinner’s anti hunting statistics. Labour councillor Chris Wrigley is also interviewed.
Production Team: Bruce Grocott; Rob Whitehouse; Mark Astaire
Film Editors: Ian Hutchison; Rick O'Connor
Graphics: Jim Chalmers
Political Editor: Reg Harcourt
Executive Producer: Terry Johnston
Editor: Mike Warman
Director: Rob Harding
Production number 3406/83.