Archives for June 2009
Who do you believe when it comes to public spending?
There's a huge row going on between Labour and the Tories about who's going to spend what and who's going to cut what after the next election. And it really is going to dominate the coming months.
The decisions that are made are going to affect schools, hospitals, the police, the defence budget etc.
At ten we're going to crunch the figures for you - and then we want to know from you - which party do you believe?
I've got no real sense of where you the 5 live listeners are, when it comes to this debate. The Lib Dems say ALL parties need to have an open debate about what government can and can't afford to do in the future.
Police, politicians and pop
Today the Monday music review features La Roux's debut album, Bruce Springsteen's new single Lucky Day and Moby's latest album, Wait For Me.
Plus we'll bring together the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee who says untrained police officers were at the frontline of the G20 protest and Assistant Commissioner at the Met who denies such a charge.
And does it matter if Mps have second jobs? From this Wednesday for the first time politicians will have to declare how many hours they spend doing second jobs, and how much they earn. Can having a second job help in an MP's role or would you rather they concentrated on representing their constituents and scrutinising legislation?
Would you give this woman a job?
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Watch the video to see what happened when we took Rebecca Knowles-Dixon, who's 24, to a recruitment consultant to see how much her appearance could affect her chances of getting a job. And if you click on this link you can see a break-down on the advice she was given.
Plus, we'll hear from the mother of a twelve-year-old boy who blames her son's anti-social behaviour on a condition called Oppositional Defiant Disorder - which means he does the opposite of what he's told.
UPDATE
You can hear Victoria's interview with Nadine, whose twelve-year-old son has ODD here:
Expenses middleman
Aasmah Mir's standing in for Victoria today - and she's written this for our blog:-
"This morning, we'll speak to the man who brokered the deal with the Telegraph for the leaked expenses information.. Henry Gewante... How did he get involved? Why did he get involved? Which papers did he approach? And how does he feel now? If you want to ask him a question you can call after 10. 0500 909 693
Plus, Andy Murray says it's "unacceptable" he is the only British man left in the Wimbledon draw. Four British men and two women lost in the first round. He says it's 'disappointing' and that some of the male players just "aren't at the same level as a lot of guys." Is he right? Or is one good British player enough?
Plus your chance to talk to the new defence secretary Bob Ainsworth."
This morning, we'll also hear from a family who can't afford to live in Spain anymore because of the exchange rate and current economic climate. You can see a film of the Candlin Family that our reporter Stephen Chittenden made below
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You can read more about their story on BBC News
We'll also hear from another family who say they will stay because they'd rather be poor in the sunshine than reasonably well off in the cold British climes.
Dramatic weight loss
Before and after
We'll talk to the young woman who was once described as Britain's fattest teenager. 16 year old Georgia Davies from South Wales has just got back from a US weight-loss camp - having shed 15 stone, almost half her bodyweight. She'll be with us at 11.
UPDATE
Listen to Victoria's interview with Georgia and her mum Lesley here:
You can also watch a clip from the interview with Georgia below
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You can read more about Georgia's story on BBC News.
Plus schooldays - are they really the best days of your life? New research says actually, they're not.
And the mother of Hester Stewart, the 21 year old who died after taking the legal high GBL. Last summer drugs experts recommended it should be banned. It's still legal. We'll talk to Maryon Stewart, ahead of her meeting with the Home Secretary tomorrow.
Update
You can hear Victoria's interview with Maryon Stewart here:
Britain's newest astronaut talks to you
Did you ever dream of travelling to the moon as youngster? Tim Peake, a helicopter pilot in the Army did, but unlike the rest of us he could actually get to achieve his childhood dream. He's been named by the European Space Agency as one of its six new astronauts - even though Britain doesn't contribute to the human space flight programme. You can read more on BBC News.
To get the job he's already had to prove he's better than nearly eight and a half thousand other applicants. Major Peake begins his18-month basic astronaut training on 1 September. It's his first interview on Five Live and he's here to talk to you this morning. Do call 0500 909693, email victoria@bbc.co.uk, message me on facebook or here or text 85058.
Will this destroy Formula 1?
We woke up at Silverstone to the dramatic news that eight out of ten of the F1 teams have announced they're leaving to set up their own breakaway series.
BBC Sport: F1 teams drop breakaway bombshell
It's because of a row with the FIA (world motorsport's governing body) over how much money the teams spend.
But will the eight, including Ferrari, McLaren and Brawn GP, really break away?
Or is this a way of putting the squeeze on the FIA to get what they want?
From 10am this morning we'll talk to the main players: head of Brawn GP, Ross Brawn and the big boss, president of the FIA, Max Mosely.
Could this destroy F1 as we know it?
You can listen again to the programme on iPlayer
Victoria with Nick Fry of Brawn GP
Inside the Brawn garage
Sir Jackie Stewart, Anthony Davidson and David Croft
Cars lined up for practice in the paddock at Silverstone
Vroom vroom
We've spent the afternoon in the Brawn GP motorhome at Silverstone.
It's effectively a huge white shiny cube where Jenson Button's Mum and Dad and various other friends hang out.
Despite the grey cloud it does feel rather glamorous (apart from groups of men with fancy facial hair who look like they've just emerged from adolescence).
Button, who leads this season's F1 title race, was extremely relaxed when we interviewed him. You can hear it on Friday morning at 10am.
Follow me on Twitter right now... it's vicderbyshire.
What can you find out about your MP?
The details of expenses claims made by every MP from 2004 to 2008 have been put online. Most of the information has already been leaked by the Daily Telegraph. In the official version, important details which would have shown up some of the worst abuses have been blanked out.
Find out what YOUR MP has claimed on this link and perhaps compare it to the information the Telegraph has uncovered.
The final Grand Prix at Silverstone
This afternoon I'm recording an interview with the man who could become this year's Formula One World Champion. I always wonder when these pre-recorded interviews are arranged if the guest will turn up but let's hope so cos we want to play out Jenson Button at 10 tomorrow when we're live from Silverstone for practice. Our programme will be coming from the upper floor of this Brawn motorhome. 
It's the last British Grand Prix at SS for ...well maybe forever. Follow me on twitter this afternoon and tomorrow..it's vicderbyshire.
"Within the rules"
The Conservative MP who claimed almost £60,000 to rent a flat from his own company told Victoria this morning that he doesn't believe he's done anything wrong. The Northampton South MP, Brian Binley, made the claims whilst he appealed against a change in House of Commons rules banning MPs from renting properties from themselves or their companies. He moved to a different flat after the Speaker rejected his appeal in April and told Victoria what he did was "honest, above board, straight-forward and a fair-deal to the tax payer":
Lots of reaction from Mr Binley's constituents to the interview. Evelyn said "I listen regularly but never felt compelled enough to text before. I am a constituent of Mr Binley and even voted for him! Am apalled by his arrogance. Hope Cameron takes positive action. Won't be voting for him again for sure!". And Andy said "I am a constituent of Mr Binley. He sums up everything wrong with polititians. Blinkered views, black is white arguments. He doesn't have my support!" But there was some support for him, like this text from Colin "I think Brian Binley was completely up front and honest. Surely the problem is with the fee's office allowing widespread abuse."
The father of Amanda Knox speaks out
We have the first British interview with the father of Amanda Knox - on trial for the murder of her flatmate, the Surrey student Meredith Kercher. The interview was conducted by Five Live's Gavin Lee - he begins by asking Mr Knox how he thought his daughter came over when she gave evidence in court last week...
Also: would you work for free to save your job, as British Airways staff have been asked to do? We'll ask the new Work and Pensions Secretary if she would.
IVF error leads to damages being paid out
We'll talk to the couple who've been awarded damages after an horrendous mix-up at an IVF clinic that led to one of their embryos being implanted into another woman. Plus the Monday music review featuring music from Paloma Faith, the Lemonheads and Beth Ditto's Gossip. We'll have a statement from the Scottish health minister about death of a woman from swine flu and we'll talk to the parents of Ben Kinsella; and have you stayed together for the sake of your children?
Update:
Listen to the interview with Deborah and Paul here:
Who will be the new Speaker of the House?
Could it be this chap? Over the next week or so we're giving you the chance to question some of those MPs who want to be the next Speaker of the House.
Today it's the turn of Labour MP Parmjit Dhanda, who describes himself as a "surprise candidate". Listen to what he would do in the role - he's got some interesting ideas - taking parliamentary debates on tour around town halls across the country for example - and then pick up the phone and question him further. Ring 0500 909693 at ten.
UPDATE
You can listen to what he had to say below
A woman who went abroad to buy a kidney
This morning we're going to talk to 46 year old Sukhi Johal from London who needed a kidney transplant operation. After waiting for a match for 18 months she decided to go abroad and buy a kidney. She paid £30,000 for it. In the UK it is illegal under the Human Tissue Act of 2004 to buy or sell organs. In Pakistan, the sale of a kidney is not illegal, provided it is "voluntary, genuinely motivated and without duress or coercion." Join us at ten to hear her story.
Will a reshuffle make any difference?
We'll bring you all the details of Gordon Brown's reshuffle. Plus our investigation into what's going on in Luton - where tensions between communities and within communities are high, according to the police.
It must be Thursday...
We will talk to Lorraine, Debra and James - the three kicked off The Apprentice last night and I cannot wait. You can talk to them too - 0500 909693 Plus Kate said last night it was harder working with women cos they are "whingier and moanier" at work. Are they any worse than men? Plus live, we'll bring you President Obama in Egypt speaking about the future of the Middle East. And do you have a right to know how much BBC Radio presenters are on? Join the debate from 10.
Dear Gareth...
Gareth Barry's written a letter to Aston Villa fans to explain his decision to join Manchester City. The letter in today's Birmingham Mail, says he was fearful of "going stale and falling into a comfort zone". We asked you to write your own letter of reply to Gareth Barry. Villa fan Ian Robathan took up the challenge with relish......
Banned from the UK
Tune in tomorrow to hear the first interview with Michael Savage. He's the American radio "shock-jock" who's been banned from travelling to the UK by the Home Office because he's said to promote hatred or extremism.
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