A 30-minute news feature, hosted by Ruth Pitt and Geoff Druett. This episode is separated into three main news segments. The first segment, titled ‘Are some Tories too right?’ discusses allegations and concerns around the Extreme Right within the Conservative Party. Marcus Fox MP features in this segment. The second feature, ‘Will Nigel get it right’ discusses the first full budget that Chancellor Nigel Lawson is due to present to Parliament in a few weeks’ time. Druett talks with John...

A 30-minute news feature, hosted by Ruth Pitt and Geoff Druett. This episode is separated into three main news segments. The first segment, titled ‘Are some Tories too right?’ discusses allegations and concerns around the Extreme Right within the Conservative Party. Marcus Fox MP features in this segment. The second feature, ‘Will Nigel get it right’ discusses the first full budget that Chancellor Nigel Lawson is due to present to Parliament in a few weeks’ time. Druett talks with John Townend MP and Max Madden MP in the studio about their thoughts on the possible contents of the budget, as well as which approach is most needed to support economic growth and stability. The third main segment, titles ‘Putting the countryside right’ is the first of a series of film reports, intending to explore the interests and lives of Parliamentary figures outsides of politics. This segment focuses on Peter Hardy MP and his enthusiasm for environmental conservation. Finally, a short segment towards the end of the episode sees Ruth Pitt and Michael White of ‘The Guardian’ discuss GCHQ Trade Union ban disputes in Cheltenham. Are some Tories too right? Ruth Pitt introduces the topic of the Extreme Right within the Tory Party. Allegations of extremism were first exposed in an Observer article in the previous October, the day before the Conservative Party Conference. Within, contents of a secret draft report were revealed. Don Moody was a key figure that was named within the report, as a former member of Column 88, a Parliamentary Neo-Nazi group. Later, he became a Conservative Party candidate in a local council election in Cleethorpes. This has now prompted question into whether the Conservatives should allow those with extremist views and connections to remain within the party. Marcus Fox MP (Shipley) shares his opinions on this. He condemns extremist views such as Moody’s, but is displeased with the labels of racism and fascism regarding party members, and the idea that people can utilize Conservative views to make allegations collectively. He emphasized how individuals like Moody have no place in the Conservative Party with such extremist ideas, but also uses the example of past Labour candidates converting to Conservative views. He emphasizes his anger about the inferences made about racism and fascism within the party, as he believes the evidence was trivial and did not to be shared in this way. Will Nigel get it right? There is 5 weeks until chancellor Nigel Lawson will present his first full budget in the House of Commons. Lawson has hinted at the general nature of his budget, whilst fighting off requests and suggestions of various groups. Geoff Druett talks in the studio with John Townend MP and Max Madden MP, discussing what Chancellor Lawson should, or shouldn’t do, in the interest of the economy. Townend believes Lawson is most likely to present a neutral budget, but would have liked to see the Chancellor’s acceptance of CBI ideas. He believes the main threats being faced are to bring inflation down, and can only envision tax reductions if there are subsequent cuts in public expenditure. Townend’s concern is that, now Britain is an oil power, there is a need to be competitive in keeping low interest rates and inflation down. Madden wants to see a budget that gives young people, old workers, and those who are unemployed hope for the economic future. This, he argues, must mean a significant expansion of the economy. Britain could take measures to expand employment and restore cuts in housing, education and health, with money being available from multiple sources to do so. Madden calls for economic expansion, not contraction of the economy. Townend and Madden disagree on the importance of public expenditure and the best approach that the Chancellor should take, as well as the reliability of the Conservative government to make economic changes. Putting the countryside right. This segment is intended as the first of a series of film reports showing the interest of parliamentary figures beyond politics. This feature focuses on Labour MP For Wentworth Peter Hardy, and his enthusiasm and concerns around environmental conversation. Thrybergh Country Park in Rotherham is used as the main filming site, but the feature contains footage of farming and agriculture, as well as slideshow features showing different species of plants and animals. Hardy emphasizes that, away from the ecological importance of preservation, we forget the inspirational significance of nature and its influence on our culture; he sees the natural world as a part of our heritage to preserve, and wishes to ensure that future generations grow up with natural spaces,. Hardy discusses, through sit-down interviews and voice-over clips, how he came to introduce the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, which ensured full governmental protection over around 141 species of plants and animals. The Act also established protection over 4000 wildlife haunts; locations seen as sites of scientific ecological interest. Hardy shares that there is a loophole to this protection system however, in that once a site of importance is established, there is a 3-month period in which the owners can destroy the features of significance. Hardy states that, at the time of filming, he is waiting for a government response about a further bill to prevent this. 22 of these sites have been destroyed since the Act, such as farmers bulldozing the areas; Hardy blames economic pressures to overproduce things like barley for this. The Nature Conservancy Council calls the sites of special interest ‘nature’s thin green line’, and that they are essential to prevent colonies of wild plants and animals being wiped out. GCHQ Trade Unions. A final segment sees a talk between Ruth Pitt and Michael White of The Guardian across two filming studios. In this feature, they discuss GCHQ trade union ban disputes occurring in Cheltenham, general sentiments towards Sir Geoffrey Howe and the Thatcher government over this system, and contemplate which trade unionists will sign the deal for the £1000 and leave their unions, as opposed to facing dismissal, in a few weeks’ time. Presented by GEOFF DRUETT, RUTH PITT With MARCUS FOX MP, MAX MADDEN MP, JOHN TOWNEND MP, MICHAEL WHITE Film Cameraman DICK DODD Film Sound RON GUNN, ALAN BEDWARD Film Editor MIKE EUSTACE Film Director, TERRY STEEL Editorial Assistant, ALI RASHID Director TONY SCULL Executive Producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE YTV Limited 1984 YORKSHIRE TELEVISION Production