Uncomfortable Minister trying to sell bottled fog on Tyneside

Debate

Grainger Suite Life Centre Newcastle Upon Tyne 31st August 2004

with Rt Hon Nick Raynsford John Tomaney (Yes4theNorthEast) Neil Herron (North East No Campaign)

Draft Regional Assemblies Bill

Neil Herron's Speech

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen.

Firstly I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Raynsford for having the courage to come to the region today...and sorry you couldn't make it to Sunderland for the debate when you were called back to Parliament at short notice...something about cancelling referendums.
I can tell you that Jonathan was an admirable stand in and the dozen or so people who turned up enjoyed the sandwiches.

The handful of Sunderland residents who have heard that there is a referendum, possibly taking place on November 4th, will be disappointed that you have again chosen Newcastle to discuss the Draft Regional Assemblies Bill...but who are we to complain. You would think we were the biggest city.

No, I must start to think as a North Easterner with a North Eastern identity.

Which brings me neatly on to that 'Identity.'

An 'identity' that makes us so special that we are the only ones to have a referendum...after the ones in Yorkshire and the North West were 'postponed.'

Are we unique?

We were told that we didn't suffer any problems.

There was no evidence of any fraud...not like what had happened in the other two regions.

I stood in the elections and witnessed the problems first hand

...600,000 ballot papers over a week late.

...28,000 ballot papers rejected is 28,000 people losing their vote.

...and we had the same potential for fraud that there was in the other two regions...multiple voting, 'influencing' someone's vote... a 'Charter for Bullies', theft of ballot papers. Only difference is that up here no-one got caught...yet.

But the two referendums were cancelled and the North East was to go ahead despite the fact that this was well in advance of the Electoral Commission's report....a report which came out last Friday... brought forward from Monday 13th September...to a Friday before a Bank Holiday.

Well, Mr. Raynsford, that bad news has not been buried. Its corpse is still here and the foul stench that we have in our nostrils is the smell of our democracy decomposing before our very eyes.

The Electoral Commission recommends that All Postal Ballots are never to be used again... except for the North East referendum.

Too late to alter... too late to postpone.

A flawed and discredited system used in a referendum which will affect the way the North East is governed for years, if not generations to come.

The Electoral Commission, set up by this Government to help encourage greater participation in the democratic process, ignored. It beggars belief.

Perhaps we do have a unique identity here in the North East... a one that recognises when we are being treated as fools.

Unlike others, I would like the referendum to go ahead because it will give the public a chance to indulge themselves and send the Government a loud and clear message.

Which brings be onto the second point.

The last time we met Mr. Raynsford, was the day the District Auditor announced that the unelected North East Assembly had been unlawfully using public money to promote the Yes perspective.

The Assembly was publicly censured and all the literature had to be withdrawn and the website taken down...they had to then become 'neutral and benign.' They did so and it was not necessary to proceed with legal action.

We were then told that the Government's 'Information Campaign' which has had more lauches than Swan Hunters, was to be neutral.

Quite why Mr. Prescott launched one of the launches a couple of weeks before announcing the actual date. Surely it would have been better to have the date on the hundreds of adverts on the buses?

However, I have the latest brochure from this 'Information' Campaign. It appears that lessons have not been learned. I have the utmost sympathy for John Tomaney and the Yes campaign.

They expected at least to have their chance of convincing the public with some of their arguments...he is quoted here as saying "some of the images are disappointing."

For the rest of the audience I will leave you to judge whether this is 'Information' or a blatant attempt at propaganda.
...if you are fit, smart urban and dynamic then you are in favour...
...if you are elderly, or a minority... and unhappy you are opposed...
...and the guy with 'I love Tony' on his T -Shirt...

So, Mr. Raynsford...you haven't just shot yourself in both feet in the past few days...you have just blown the legs off the Yes Campaign.

I am sorry if everyone thought that we were here today to hear discussions about the minutiae of this document, but it is a bit like discussing what colour curtains you would like for a house built without planning permission, on foundations of sand with money borrowed from a bank with a fraudulent application...sold to you by a didgy estate agent.

I will leave that argument for the audience to challenge the Minister, but the main point for me is in the wording of Section 43...

"Central Government would retain powers to ensure that elected assemblies and their RDA's continue to address national priorities. For exaple, the Assembly would need to consult the Government on the draft regional economic strategy and on Board appointments. The Government would also be able to require changes to the strategy, if it conssiders that it is inconsistent with national policies or is likely to have a detrimental eefect on areas outside the region."

As that sinks in, I will quickly sum up...

-There never was, "the will of the people." They are disinterested to say the least in what is to be nothing more than a toothless, ineffective talking shop. We have had this ill-thought out ill-conceived idea foisted upon us.

-Continuing with a flawed and discredited poll will completely undermine the result...whichever way it goes and if cases of fraud are uncovered then there could be legal challenges.

-We will be demanding that ALL the propaganda leaflets are withdrawn.

-An assembly will be able to do what it wants...but only with reference back to central Government...will give us nothing more than an expensive talking shop producing initiatives and strategies.

-If Steve Rankin is here I am sure he will raise this point, none of the 10 concerns / challenges of the CBI and NECC raised last year have been met. I know he is still living in hope... but look at the reality. People are not on board and never were. Business is not on board and never really were.

So, Mr. Raynsford, I admire your courage coming here today because I know your heart isn't really in it.
The people here are not just going to say no, they are going to shout it.
ENDS