BCB EXCLUSIVE Cabinet in Bradford - IDS Speaks to BCB

Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has told Bradford Community Broadcasting that Bradford is "very dear to his heart", as members of the cabinet visit the city in a bid to prove the governement isn't "London-centric".


He's insisted there shouldn't be a north-south divide in the country's economy and says the reality is that there are many prosperous cities in the north which are surrounded by poorer areas - and that Bradford was chosen as host city today as it's a good example of the issue.


He said: "I cut my political teeth here in Bradford...so I'm one of those who says Bradford really must have a future and it's time we made certain that places like Bradford can share some of the prosperity that comes from places like Leeds."

He has also defended plans to raise the state pension age of men to 66, saying it will increase economic activity, ultimately creating more work for jobless youths in the city.

Interview: Danie Linsell Report: Danie Linsell, Samantha Gildea & Will Rastall Video: Will Rastall & Danie Linsell

Cabinet Arrive at Grattan Stadium

Business Secretary Vince Cable, Chancellor George Osbourne and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles lead their cabinet colleagues into the home of the Bulls as they arrived this morning for the first meeting of the new coalition cabinet outside London.

They all travelled to the city by train and were taken by coach to the venue from the station - unlike Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg, who were driven to Odsal in an official limo.

The city is of course very familiar to Mr Pickles, who was Bradford Council leader in the 1980s when Baroness Thatcher was Prime Minister.

Photo: Samantha Gildea

Clegg & Cameron Arrive in Bradford

The leaders arrive for the first coalition cabinet meeting outside London

Deputy PM Nick Clegg and Prime Minister David Cameron arrive at the Grattan Stadium in Odsal for today's session.

Photo: Samantha Gildea

Recognising Bradford's Women of Achievement

Three of Bradford’s own wonder women have narrowly missed out on a "Yorkshire Women of Achievement" award.

Thirty seven inspirational women from all over Yorkshire attended a ceremony at the Royal Armouries, competing in 5 categories ranging from business to education.

The 3 Bradford nominees were all competing for the lifetime achievement award.

Police Chief Superintendant Alison Rose is divisional commander for Bradford South, and the only female police commander in West Yorkshire. The second nominee was Shelia Saunders, a research associate working at Bradford University, and the third was Sandra Corcoran, who manages training centres for Bradford Council.

Despite their achievements, the Bradford ladies were pipped to the post by Hilary Willmer, founder of the “Nightstop” Barnardo's project.

The winner of the Jane Tomlinson courage award was Emmerdale’s blind actress, Kitty Mcgeever, who lost her son, her sight, and her livelihood in a battle with diabetes.

Following the event Alison Rose told BCB she had found the whole day inspirational (video)

Reporter: Kate Holdsworth Video: Cat Marr

Targeted Shop Owner 'Would Rather Be On The Dole'

A Bradford city centre retailer is fed up of having his shop targeted by criminals.

In the last twelve months, Beauty and Fragrance, on James Street, has been vandalised and broken into three times.

The most recent attack is believed to have happened last Sunday morning whilst the shop’s owner, 41-year-old Munawar Hussein, was away on business. Mr Hussein was left “shocked and worried”. He signed up for a 15 year tenancy agreement on the shop about 2 years ago, but he now plans to leave after just 5 years.

Police are still investigating the incident.

The father of four believes that it would have taken over an hour to smash one of the front windows and steal around £1800 worth of stock, and he told BCB that unless he receives more support from the police and the local council he may consider giving up work altogether.

“Maybe I will close the shop. I can sit home watch the telly and get Jobseeker’s Allowance. Because there’s no headache, or trading and it’s an easy life,” Mr Hussein said.



Report & Photo: Laura Pennington Video Reporter: Will Rastall

High Hopes for Wimbledon

Tennis fans and Pagans alike were celebrating in the sun today as the first day of Wimbledon coincided with the summer solstice.

For some, the calm, collected and dignified sport that is Lawn Tennis will bring a welcome change to the deafening noise of the World Cup vuvuzela. But, as with our football team, the question remains whether England - or rather Great Britain - can smash the competition.

With Andy Murray as our only real hope, we don’t have much room for error. But, with the Queen due for her first visit since Virginia Wade won the Women’s Singles Title in 1977, one can’t help but wonder whether our Monarch could be the good luck charm we need.

Superstitions aside, a serious question remains; why is our home grown talent so thin on the ground? We went to Ilkley in search of the answer…


Report and Video: Will Rastall

Airport Bosses Under Fire Over Noise

Residents living near to Leeds Bradford International Airport are a step nearer to having their frustrations voiced about airport noise, car parking and private flying.

It's been claimed that airport managers failed to publicise a recent consultation exercise on noise issues, with the result that many residents did not get to have their say on issues surrounding the airport on their doorstep.

Lib Dem Councillor Brian Cleasby, who represents the Horsforth ward which lies beneath the airport's flightpath said:

"If you're going to go travel on holiday with a big suitcase, you're ain't going to be standing at a cold, drafty, wet bus stop, waiting for a bus to get you to the aeroplane. You're going to use your car and you've got to go through the nineteenth century lanes of Horsforth and that's what's worrying people."

Today, councillors from Bradford and Leeds are meeting airport officials in the hope of setting up a point of contact for communities to approach in order to express their concerns.


Report: Lauren Layfield Photo: David Benbennick / GNU Free Documentation License

Prince Andrew in York for Army's Big Day

Yorkshire's very own army regiment has been presented with new colours at a ceremony in York this morning.

HRH Duke of York, as Colonel in Chief of the Regiment, was guest of honour, inspecting the four hundred troops that paraded, and officially unveiled the regiment’s new colours.

The colours, or regimental flag, was traditionally used in battle to signal where the generals were in the field, today they are more symbolic, yet still as important.

Family and friends crowded round the parade square as the soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment paraded to the beat of the marching band.

In the coming weeks the new colours will tour around the county they represent, with a series of parades scheduled for the regions main towns and cities.

Report and Video: James Crossling

Women Remember Bradford Sex Workers

Up to 100 women gathered in Bradford city centre late on Friday to commemorate three women feared to have been murdered whilst operating as sex workers in the district.

Body parts identified as belonging to Suzanne Blamires and Shelley Armitage have been found in the River Aire near Bradford.

There has been no trace of Susan Rushworth since she disappeared in June 2009.

40 year old Stephen Griffiths, a criminology student from Bradford University, has been charged with their murders.

Those attending the women-only commemoration event, which council officials moved from Centenary Square to a location at the end of Market Street, were asked to wear black and to carry signs in support of other sex workers abused in the course of their profession.

Photo: Lauren Layfield Report: Lauren Layfield & Richard Horsman