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Programme presented by Tony Francis. The first film report from Rob Whitehouse looks at the recent local election result in Dudley. The SDP hold the balance of power despite only winning a single seat. The SDP councillor Dr Kate Rogers is being courted by both the Conservatives and Labour because whichever party she backs will be able to appoint a mayor and take control of the council. To confuse matters Dr Rogers is a former Labour councillor who defected to the SDP in 1980 amid much acrimony. We see the exterior and interview of the council chamber in Dudley, high angle views of the town and see Dr Rogers at home. She is interviewed about the situation. Library interview with the Labour council leader Fred Hunt from 1980 (from Left Right and Centre) in which he likened the three members defecting to the SDP to the spies Philby, Burgess and Maclean. New interview with Fred Hunt and interview with the Conservative deputy leader on the council John Watteson. Next in the studio Tony Francis talks to Martin Hone and Birmingham city council leader Dick Knowles about plans for a Birmingham motor race. People living near the proposed circuit are to be given a vote on the issue. Hone has been campaigning for the race for 14 years. We see a library film clip of racing cars being demonstrated in Birmingham city centre. Finally on film Rob Whitehouse profiles Mel Chevannes who in 1981 became the first black councillor in Wolverhampton. We see high angle shots of Wolverhampton including the council headquarters and an archive newsreel showing the Empire Windrush ship bringing Caribbean settlers to Britain. Mel Chevannes is seen speaking in a council meeting which also features the Mayor of Wolverhampton. There are interviews with Chevannes; community leader Jack Williams; her husband Frank Reeves; the Conservative council leader Bill Clarke; and the Labour leader of the council John Bird; and community worker Chester Morrison. We also see Mel Chevannes at home with her family and visiting a community centre where a dance workshop is underway.
Production Team: Bruce Grocott; Rob Whitehouse; Mark Astaire; Polly Rock
Film Editors: Michael J. Crolla; John McCarthy
Graphics: Jim Chalmers
Political Editor: Reg Harcourt
Executive Producer: Terry Johnston
Editor: Mike Warman
Directors: Andy Martin; Rob Harding
Production number 4538/84.