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TV debate fury as UKIP Euro voting record is challenged Chancellor keen to talk up East Midlands manufacturing
(6 days later)
It exploded completely out of the blue in Brussels. My theory about George Osborne? He must have had a jumbo-sized train set when he was young. Trains, tracks, widgets and washers: it can be the stuff of dreams.
A studio debate for BBC's Sunday Politics between the MEPs of the East Midlands had been lively enough. Whenever I've interviewed him, he smiles and shines at the mention of manufacturing. Little wonder he enjoys his away-days in the Midlands, both East and West.
Then it happened - the Liberal Democrat Bill Newton-Dunn lobbed in his accusation against UKIP's Roger Helmer. The East Midlands economy shows real signs of revival.
He accused the veteran former Conservative, now UKIP MEP, of "not bothering to turn up to vote" at the European Parliament. We were at Boal Aluminium, a Dutch-owned manufacturer, at its UK production centre at Shepshed, near Loughborough in Leicestershire.
Mr Helmer was outraged and demanded an immediate on-air apology from Mr Newton-Dunn. It employs 130 staff and makes very unglamorous aluminium components for the construction and automotive industries.
Verbal parries Youth unemployment
The election debate special was being recorded by the Sunday Politics' team for the East Midlands in the new TV studios of the European Parliament in Brussels . Thirty per cent of Boal's output is exported to the EU, but it's the UK's economic upturn that's given the business a lift. It's taking on new staff.
Around the discussion table was also Labour's Glenis Willmott and the Conservative's Emma McClarkin. "People can see that the measures we are taking are benefiting manufacturing," the Chancellor told me.
Together with programme presenter Marie Ashby, they looked on in bewilderment as the two veteran MEPs, like sumo wrestlers, started their verbal grappling. "This is all part of our economic plan for greater economic resilience in this country."
And the two warring politicians didn't call off the truce on leaving the Brussels TV studios. His post-Budget visit to the East Midlands coincided with the announcement of a £36m boost to apprenticeships and youth employment prospects for Leicester and Leicestershire, under the government's City Deal.
They took to Twitter and a public exchange of emails. "We are tackling youth unemployment," he added.
"Your individual voting rate is way below mine," said the Lib Dem's Bill Newton-Dunn. "We are investing in the skills of young people. And as the economy grows, that's the way to grow living standards."
Roger Helmer responded that his voting participation rate was greater than the average Lib Dem MEP, which Newton-Dunn challenged. But following his visit, a warning from Conservative-run Leicestershire County Council.
Voting records 'Economic security'
For the record, both MEPs have higher voting records than most. Roger Helmer is at 88.14%. Bill Newton-Dunn is 95.5%. On top of its current £110m funding gap, it's calculated the Chancellor's Budget will mean finding additional savings of £27.5m. That's because he extended to 2018/19, the Coalition's austerity measures.
The average turn-out for the 14 Lib Dem MEPs is 85.72%. The post-Budget fall-out has also included anxieties from countryside organisations over the impact of a housing boom on the green belt. George Osborne has a robust response to that.
For UKIP's group of eight MEPs, the voting record is 67.95%. "We have a planning system that protects our green belt," said the Chancellor.
If you include the Yorkshire and Humber MEP Geoffrey Bloom - until his suspension from UKIP last September - the voting record is lower, at 63%. "But it also ensures that homes can be built where people want them.
"You made a false and damaging assertion," Mr Helmer told Mr Newton-Dunn. "This makes sure young families can afford a house and that they can have the economic security of home ownership."
"Admit it Bill and stop wriggling. You're wrong." George Osborne's parting comment to me was his praise of the makers and manufacturers of the East Midlands.
In reply, Mr Newton-Dunn said: "Just get on and improve your own record and that of the rest of your UKIP colleagues and stop them risking the jobs of British people." "It is so important that the East Midlands is making things, and that businesses are investing.
Other issues were discussed: workers' rights, mobile phone roaming charges and farming subsidies. But the sparks from the Lib Dem-UKIP clash will be the moment to remember . "That means workers here will have more economic security and there's the prospect of more jobs."
The elections to the European Parliament are not until 22 May but with a TV debate between UKIP's Nigel Farage and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg to come, now you know what to expect in the weeks ahead. It's a message we can expect from now up to the General Election, unless the economic wheels come off that train set.
The Sunday Politics for the East Midlands will be broadcast on Sunday, 23 March from 11:00 GMT on BBC ONE.