Sunderland Will No Sooner Buy Bottles of Fog Than Boxes of Dreams

Response to the one of the Yes Campaign's Letter Writing Squad
Lisa Campbell (letter above)

The Sunderland Echo Letters Editor

Dear Sir

Obviously ex-pat Lisa Campbell from Fenham, Newcastle of the Yes Campaign (Echo Letters 23rd July) is a newcomer to the regional assembly business because I have repeatedly engaged in the 'real debate.' We have been running the No Campaign here in Sunderland for two years.

Regular Echo readers will know that I have repeatedly stated why we are saying 'No.' Perhaps a little more research Lisa, or do you not normally read the Echo?
I am sure that Katy Schmuecker from Ipswich who runs Yes4theNorthEast will help you next time.

Supporters of an elected Assembly continue to try and sell visions and dreams instead of addressing the reality of what is being offered and telling us how it can deliver.

If you say, "We believe an Assembly will give the North East the stronger voice" you must qualify how?
And to say, "It will also give us the capacity to attract investment and jobs to the region." Tell us how it will do that, Lisa?

I too am passionate about the North East and my city. An assembly will not create a better region, or a better Sunderland.

Here is why, apologies to regular Echo Letters readers for repetition...

Fact. It will have no more money. The same £350m bloc grant will simply be shared out by a different set of politicians.

Fact. It will have no real power except to increase Council Tax to pay for itself.

Fact. It will have no power over health, education or law and order and will not create one extra nurse, teacher or policeman.

Fact. It will create another layer of bureaucracy.

Fact. It will not have the tools to create economic regeneration. No tax incentives or grants.

It will however,be able to produce strategies and consultations. Glossy brochures, politicians and talk...lots of it.
And if we get an Assembly, every other region will eventually end up with one and we are back to square one...but with a nation broken and divided into squabbling little regions.

So Lisa, put some substance to the dream because the people of the North East ain't gonna buy an empty box no matter how shiny the wrapper, and the people of Sunderland will take some convincing by Newcastle United's Sir John Hall to vote for what many are calling a 'Geordie Parliament.'

Yours faithfully

Neil Herron
Campaign Director
North East No Campaign
48 Frederick Street
Sunderland
SR1 1NF
www.northeastnocampaign.co.uk