A 30-minute news feature, hosted by Richard Whiteley and Geoff Druett. This episode largely covers the European Parliamentary election of June 1984. ‘Verdict on Europe’ begins with discussions about a recent economic summit in London for world leaders. Peter Tapsell MP (Conservative, Lindsey East) discusses his thoughts on the summit with Druett, as well as Thatcher’s economic strategies and world banking systems. In the second section, ‘Why Didn’t They Vote?’, discussions turn to the...

A 30-minute news feature, hosted by Richard Whiteley and Geoff Druett. This episode largely covers the European Parliamentary election of June 1984. ‘Verdict on Europe’ begins with discussions about a recent economic summit in London for world leaders. Peter Tapsell MP (Conservative, Lindsey East) discusses his thoughts on the summit with Druett, as well as Thatcher’s economic strategies and world banking systems. In the second section, ‘Why Didn’t They Vote?’, discussions turn to the European parliamentary election of June 14th, 1984. After showing the viewer the constituency results of the election, Dr Michael Le Lohe is featured on the programme to talk about the election polls, potential reasons behind the decrease in Conservative support, and what these results could mean for the three main parties. Finally, the programme closes with a table talk with Whiteley and three political MP’s; Bob Cryer (Labour, Sheffield), Bob Battersby (Conservative, Humberside), and Douglas Eden (SDP Liberal Alliance). Each guest discusses the election results in relation to the successes, or losses, of their respective parties, and express their optimism and hope for their parties in future general elections. Verdict on Europe 1 week prior to filming, Western leaders were departing from a London economic summit, claiming recovery was now well established in their countries. Thatcher’s critics were looking out for initiatives regarding unemployment, and any measures to prevent a world banking collapse. To Denis Healey, the last chances to avoid doubling unemployment and condemning millions to starvation had been ignored within the summit, which prompts the questioning on the show, was the summit useful, or hollow endeavour? Peter Tapsell MP (Conservative, Lindsey East) features as a guest in this segment to discuss ideas on the summit. Tapsell believes that Western governments should have increased investments in the infrastructures and industry of the West, but in actual fact did the opposite and cut back on investments, at a time the world was moving towards deep recession. He suggests that richer countries should put up more money to the International Monetary Fund, so they can help these third-world countries; IMF should also take over some of the commercial banking debts, in order to transform short term loans at high interest rates, to long term loans with low rates of interest. June 30th, he explains, is the next immediate crisis, where Argentina has to produce money they do not have. Under a USA banking system, if Argentina does default on their interest rate payment, the notional interest rate that USA banks are not receiving must be deducted from their profits, which will create problems for Americans. Tapsell does not think that banks will collapse, but believes this approach of ‘bailing out each bank when it gets into difficulty’ is not sufficient. What is needed is a larger international policy for dealing with the world crisis. He uses Reagan policies as an example of how Britain can solve their own financial issues; Tapsell suggests that the Western world can only get itself out of this crisis by expanding their economies, in line with the US. Why didn’t they vote? This feature begins the discussions into the European Parliamentary elections: Whiteley shows the viewer a ‘Euro-map’ of the area, a visual representation of eleven constituencies, with each member of the European parliament representing around 600,000 people. Dr. Michael Le Lohe, from Bradford University, talks to Druett about the constituency results, particularly for the Conservative Party. Druett asks if there is much to be gained in this election, in terms of understanding future election results; this election has been viewed by some as a bad result for Conservatives, having lost seats in Parliament. Le Lohe suggests that it is surprising how close opinion polls have been in this election; 32% of Conservative and Labour people have turned out to vote, so we are getting an indication of general opinions throughout the country. He suggests that there is a general feeling that Tory government policies are not reaching the same successes as people felt they did years before; he surmises multiple potential factors, such as feelings around unemployment, are having an adverse effect on Conservative showing. Furthermore, The Alliance hasn’t had much luck in this election, Le Lohe states, and he believes that the problem for them is due to their supporters not being as ‘hardcore’ in their interests and dedications to vote, in the same ways as Conservatives and Labour voters appear to be. In relation to questioning about Francis Pimm’s book on Thatcher, Le Lohe believes that Thatcher has problems in the political future, but will face these with the resilience she has before. Will she get the message? This final segment of the episode sees Whiteley host a table talk with Bob Cryer (Labour MP, Sheffield), Bob Battersby (Conservative MP, Humberside), and Douglas Eden (SDP Liberal Alliance), about the results of the Parliamentary election. Cryer expresses that he is pleased with results of election, and never thought that the Labour party would have an increase to 46,000; he says this is a testament to the spirit of the voters and to the policies put out by the party. Cryer argues that, even though overall results would be different if this was a General Election, this is still a major confidence boost and vote in the party for its future; the higher the turnout, the better for the prospects of the party. Battersby states that he is relieved by Conservative successes, but not surprised; his team and constituency were determined to win, and have done well. He expresses disagreement to the concept that general attitudes towards Thatcher and her government may have affected his own constituency successes, by sharing his efforts in reaching out to communities and listening to their concerns in person. Battersby does express that, now there are fewer Conservative seats in Parliament, there will be a higher workload for the remaining members, but this has the potential for positive outcomes. Eden is asked about the SDP election results. Over 70% of voters in his constituency of South Yorkshire did not vote, but regardless, Eden expresses enthusiasm to keeping up the efforts. Eden believes that Alliance gave voters an opportunity to say what they thought about Thatcher, Miners’ disputes in the constituency, etc. Yet, people stayed home, he thinks, because of the confusion of expressing these issues in discussion during a European election, rather than a general. Presented by RICHARD WHITELEY, GEOFF DRUETT Featured BOB BATTERSBY MEP, BOB CRYER MEP, DOUGLAS EDEN, PETER TAPSELL MP, and MICHEL LE LOHE Editorial Assistant ALI RASHID Director TERRY STEEL Executive Producer GRAHAM IRONSIDE Yorkshire Television Ltd. 1984 YORKSHIRE TEVELISION Production