The episode focuses on the impact of Nottinghamshire on the Miners' Strike, the lack of individuals voting for local district councillors and the House of Commons viewpoint, as well as the European election of 1984. The Author Andrew Roth also features in this episode to discuss his new book 'Parliamentary Profiles'. The episode starts with introductory music to the backdrop of Westminster Abbey and the title of the show in front of it. Hosts Richard Whiteley and Geoff Druett...

The episode focuses on the impact of Nottinghamshire on the Miners' Strike, the lack of individuals voting for local district councillors and the House of Commons viewpoint, as well as the European election of 1984. The Author Andrew Roth also features in this episode to discuss his new book 'Parliamentary Profiles'. The episode starts with introductory music to the backdrop of Westminster Abbey and the title of the show in front of it. Hosts Richard Whiteley and Geoff Druett then go over the highlights of the episode as well as showing the intertitles. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE THE KEY TO THE STRIKE: Geoff Druett speaks on the focus of the Miners' dispute and the mass rally at Mansfield that had recently occurred, this consisted of 30,000 Nottingham miners who were on strike and were trying to stop coal being produced for the benefit of the power stations (200,000 tonnes a week produced). In the studio there was a debate style interview set up with Geoff Druett and Joe Ashton (Labour MP for Bassetlaw) sat in person and Jim Lester (Conservative MP for Broxtowe) through video call as he was in the London studio- the three discuss the competition between the coal pits, pit closures, and advancing technologies effect on jobs in Nottingham. Richard Whiteley speaks about the book 'Parliamentary profiles' by Andrew Roth that is being released that week, after 25 years of political reporting on Westminster. Joe Ashton briefly talks on his opinions of the book and Richard Whiteley discusses Leon Brittan's, Kevin Barron, Michael Brown, and Kenneth Clarks sections of the book. The camera then pans to an interview set up between Richard Whiteley and Andrew Roth in which they converse about the differentially of all 650 MPs and the different reactions Roth has received from members of Parliament. COUNCILORS- LOCAL DEMOCRATS OR PARTY FODDER?: Geoff Druett alone in the studio notes that it has been ten days since the polls were open for electing local district councillors for the next four years, and that less than one person in three turned up to vote which has led to discussions about the necessity of these councils in the House of Commons. Richard Whiteley sits with two previous council members, Paul Hockney (Liberal Council in Bradford for 14 years, 1970-1984) and Doris Birdsall (Labour councillor for over 25 years, 1958-1984, former education committee chairman and lord mayor in Bradford). They discuss about the difficulties of local councils, the benefits it has had to their local area, and the changing ways of councils in regards to debating. LABOUR'S SONG FOR EUROPE: Geoff Druett notes current events on a segment of the show called Westminster Diary, one of these events is the European Election. There is an image of a ballet box with June 14th wrote on it whilst Druett narrates in the background about the parties involved in the election on the 14th of June 1984 (The Alliance, The friends of the earth, Tories, and Labour). He also speaks about the competition being organized by the Labour party aiming to create a better song for Europe, it had a £2500 prize and it aimed to get young people interested in Europe. At the end of the show it pans to an interview set up in the studio with Richard Whiteley and Joe Ashton where he is granted the opportunity to speak on Andrew Roth. End of episode- pans to view of Westminster Abbey with the River Thames in front of it and the theme tune in the background. Presenters RICHARD WHITELEY & GEOFF DRUETT Featuring JOE ASHTON, DORIS BIRDSALL, PAUL HOCKNEY, JIM LESTER, ANDREW ROTH Editorial Assistant ALI RASHID Director GARY WARD Executive producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE YTV Limited 1984 Yorkshire Television Production