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Programme presented by Tony Francis. The first item is a Reg Harcourt studio interview with the leader of the Labour party, Neil Kinnock. He is asked whether the on-going miners’ strike is causing damage to the party and rejects calls from some of his MPs for a general strike. The next film item is part of a series in which MPs report on an issue of their choosing. This week the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury, Derek Conway calls for the introduction of compulsory national service within the Territorial Army. Conway is a T.A. Captain and we see him in uniform and shots of a T.A. exercise with guns. There are also library pictures from Midlands News showing the final Territorial Army recruits arriving at Budbrooke Barracks in Warwickshire in 1960. This is followed by interviews with three MPs who remember their compulsory service: Sir Antony Buck; Colin Shepherd (Conservative, Hereford); and Joe Ashton (Labour, Bassetlaw). We then see the exterior of the 5th Battalion Light Infantry at Shrewsbury and there are interviews with various military personnel: Sgt Major Kenneth Annison; Lt Col Richard Vallacott; and Sgt Major Mike Baker who all talk about the benefits of service and the activities of the modern T.A. This is followed by vox pops with young conservatives in Shrewsbury and finally shots of Conway at home with his two year old son. Back in the studio Tony Francis interviews the Conservative MP for Selly Oak, Anthony Beaumont-Dark about back bench power and recent government u-turns including a plan by Keith Joseph to change student grants.
Political Editor: Reg Harcourt
Production Editor: Bruce Grocott
Film Editor: Paul Brown
Graphic Designes: Jim Chalmers; Mark Robinson
Production Team: Rob Whitehouse; Sally Jones; Mark Astaire; Helga Dowie; Chris Fewlass
Directors: Richie Stewart; John Pullen; David Berman
Production number 5196/84.