Supporters of elected regional government are taking beating after beating as more of the public start to wake up to the complete shambles that is Prescott's 'Baby.' The Yes sides best shots have been fired already. Even the BBC couldn't even put the biggest shake-up in North East politics as lead news item. It was briefly mentioned half-way through the programme the other night.
If anyone care to respond to Richard Simpson's letter here is the Journal's e-mail address jnl.letters@ncjmedia.co.uk
LettersPage Newcastle Journal 27th July
Features are blighted by use of the term "home rule"
As the leading regional newspaper, The Journal could play a vital role in explaining and debating the issues surrounding the creation of a North East assembly.
Unfortunately you have chosen to blight your features on the subject by constantly referring to the "home rule" issue, the "home rule" debate, and the "home rule" referendum.
When a state achieves "home rule" it is then able to decide its own constitution, governance, and legal system to decide how to tax its citizens, how to educate its children, and how to protect its borders and its populace, amongst many other functions.
Nothing remotely like this is being offered to our region.
What is being offered is a reorganisation of local government; a huge upheaval of existing councils in Northumberland and Durham in order to accommodate a new regional council which will have no real powers, provide no services (other than running the fire brigades currently run by existing councils) and have little real influence on the regions quangos.
No intelligent person could honestly term this "home rule".
I can only assume that the constant use of that highly emotive and persuasive term is designed to encourage those who only take a passing interest in what is happening to vote "Yes" in the coming referendum.
The cry of "Home Rule for Geordieland!" may well succeed in its objective, but makes a mockery of your claim to portray yourselves as the honest broker in this debate.
David Lockie
Berwick
Give elected assembly resounding thumbs up
Yorkshire and the North West’s loss is the North East’s gain.
In order to cover its embarrassment over postponing regional referenda in two regions, the Government has significantly improved the powers that an elected North East assembly will have. The assembly will now be able to develop policy in relation to skills and training; transport; small businesses; economic development; housing; fire and rescue services; culture; tourism and sport; public health; tackling crime; the environment; and rural policy.
It will have control or influence over more than £1bn of expenditure a year.
This gives the people of the North East a fantastic opportunity shape their own destiny and reverse the relative decline of a region that has suffered more than any other from the over-centralised system of government that has evolved in the UK.
I hope readers appreciate what an exciting opportunity an elected assembly represents for the North – east and will give it a resounding thumbs up in the referendum on November 4.
Richard Simpson
Burnopfield
County Durham
Poll should be postponed for thorough review of structures
You report that the Government has shelved plans for referendums in the two other northern regions (on what has been reported as lack of support and uncertainty in those regions), but will proceed to a vote in the North East.
While personally welcoming the policy of strong regional accountable devolution, it would appear that we are being presented with rather ambiguous definitions of the role of the North East Assembly, especially in terms of its crucial relationship with future local government.
At present local government is currently being redefined in terms of its powers and responsibilities. This is especially the case in both service provisions and partnership with other stakeholders, and the nature of representative democracy and accountability.
Accordingly, in the North East, we should request that the referendum be postponed.
There should be an immediate and thorough review of proposed devolved structures in relationship between the proposed assembly and effective delivery of local government responsibilities. This was not explained in your report. This would give time and assurance for people and local government in this region to consider their priorities, and in particular, the promotion of clear lines of accountability in a sub-regional decision – making environment.
Paul Crompton
Newcastle
Government contempt, deceit and political expediency
The government’s decision to postpone the referendums on regional assemblies in the North West and Yorkshire but go ahead in the North East is a mixture of contempt for the electorate, deceit and political expediency.
The contempt lies in expecting us to believe that the postponements were because of concerns over postal voting, when in fact it was fear of losing.
The deceit lines in concealing the fact that England is being broken up into regions at the behest of Brussels. We must punish the government for its arrogance with a resounding "no" to regional assemblies.
Philip Warren
Gosforth
Newcastle
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