More Letters...tidal wave grows

Northern Echo
21st September

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
I CAN confirm that Ray Mallon has made no attempt over the past year to contact the 'No' campaign to hear the contrary arguments and concerns with regard to a regional assembly.
It appears he is prepared to listen to arguments from Sir John Hall and John Tomaney from Yes4theNorthEast without a balance.

He was also made fully aware of the unelected assembly's misuse of public money. He chose not to contact us.

If Ray Mallon considers himself a 'man of the people' then he has a duty to listen to the doubters' concerns too.

Perhaps he has realised that the way forward in politics is with the region's political elite.
I understand that he is supporting the Labour candidate in Hartlepool.

There will not be an assembly dominated by true 'Independents'. This is a political project, by a political party for political reasons... and remember, it is the hard working taxpayer who will carry the cost of this unwanted political folly.

Do you wonder why everyone is still desperate for information and facts and there are none forthcoming?
Neil Herron,
Campaign Director, North-East No Campaign.

SO 20 per cent of the 'No' campaigners are supporters of the Tory Party. What a surprise!
I wonder what shattering percentage of the 'Yes' campaigners are members of the Labour Party?
David M Bishop, Guisborough.

SO Ray Mallon supports a regional assembly and would be a willing member.
Wonder if this has anything to do with his aspirations to become an MP? I'm sure he sees this as a route to Westminster.

As regards cost, you are all fooling yourselves if you think it won't add to your council tax bills.
Look at the Scottish Parliament. Estimated cost £45m - actual cost - £450m.
Only the Government could get away with it. You've been warned. –
Mel Auton, Ingleby Barwick.

'NO' campaign's publicity man Graham Robb has coined what he thinks is a clever catchphrase by referring to the 'Yes' campaign as the "New Establishment" He uses it on every occasion he can.

He had better be careful. It could backfire.

As has been frequently pointed out, North-East Says No is run by retired Conservatives. They were the establishment in the North-East when the Conservatives were in power.

During that period our industries were run down and public services starved of funds. The electorate responded by kicking out Conservative councillors and MPs in the region wholesale. These are the people who now think they can solve our problems when they conspicuously failed before.

The campaign for a regional assembly gained momentum during this period so that the North-East would never get the same treatment again.
So Graham might ponder that if people are given a choice between the "New" and the "Old" establishments which one they would prefer. I don't think it will be much of a contest. –
David Taylor-Gooby, Peterlee.

IT is excellent news that Ray Mallon is backing Yes4theNorthEast. It shows that when people are faced with the reality of making decisions in all parts of the North-East, they find out just how limited the power of regional policy makers really is.

Bringing about meaningful change requires the legitimate power that democratic regional government brings.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that the region must seize. Yes4theNorthEast is building a rainbow coalition of support across the region, the result of many years of campaigning by those close to the grassroots, active in their local communities.

Those in the 'No' campaign who seek to reject this opportunity have to explain how the same old rule from London is going to enable the North-East to make policy and put it into action.
Philip Latham, Riding Mill.

Northern Echo
Letters
21st September

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

THE 'No' campaign is being accused of using "spin" - horror of horrors.
However, I have noted that the 'Yes' campaign refers frequently to Scotland and Wales, and even once to the US. Could this not be an attempt by inference to persuade us that we would be given powers similar to those in Scotland?

This suggests to me that they are very much aware that this would not be the case, and that they are worried that too many voters might realise this and that they are trying to use spin to mislead us.

Voters should be told clearly that the Scottish Parliament has full control of education, its legal system, etc, and in these matters it is in no way overseen by the Parliament in London, or by the House of Lords.

To choose a topical issue, it passed a law forbidding foxhunting with dogs two or three years ago. To choose another example, school children are not tested as they progress in the way they are here - this is the case in Wales also.

It would not be possible for the proposed North-East regional government to, contrary to the rules from London, do either of these things, no matter how much we wanted to within the region.
David M Bishop, Guisborough.

'YES' campaigners for a regional assembly wrongly claim the North-East could take control of its own affairs.

Examination of the Government's policy document reveals paragraph 43: "The Government could require changes to the (RDA's) strategy, if it considers that it is likely to have a detrimental effect on areas outside the region".

This actually gives the government more control over our economic development policies than it has at present.

For example, following the bad news about job losses at Jaguar in Coventry, any attempt by a prospective regional assembly to support the North-East's motor sector could be stopped if the Government chose to prioritise the West Midlands motor sector.

Instead of offering the devolved power that the 'Yes' side claims, the actual policy gives power explicitly to ministers in Whitehall. This is why the proposals should be regarded as fake devolution.

At present, councils can group together, as they have in Tees Valley or through the original NGI, and there is nothing to stop them competing with other regions. Paragraph 43 would give the Government power to stop a regional assembly from doing precisely this.

It's clear an assembly would have no real power and would cost us more. The answer is to vote 'No'.
Graham Robb, Middleton St George.

THERE seems no end to the lies peddled by the Government in its (unconstitutional) attempts to impose a regional assembly on the North-East.

First, an electoral system (referendum by post) has been chosen which the Government and the Electoral Commission admit is so flawed that it will never be used again.

Second, the Government has set up a so-called regional assembly and now asks us if we want one. Doesn't democracy mean the other way round?

Third, if the Government has a policy of providing regional assemblies for the UK why are there no regions allowed in Scotland (where there at least three identifiable regions) or Wales (where there at least two)? Why is only England to be split up?

Fourth, if the Government wants to change the constitution of the United Kingdom and create regional assemblies why does it not ask the people of the United Kingdom? Because it would get a resounding 'No'. So, instead, it is bypassing 90 per cent of the British people through a manipulative referendum in only one part of the UK.

Fifth, the regional assembly supporters have now been saying things in their referendum literature which are not in the actual parliamentary Bill. The successful and long established 'No' campaign in the North-East has been bypassed and Government money has been awarded to complete novices in this matter.

In any other democratic country in the world constitutional change can only be achieved after a two thirds majority but Mr Blair and Mr Prescott will throw out our system of local government if only 51 per cent vote in favour.
Rodney Atkinson, Stocksfield.

HAVE the likes of Sir John Hall and Ray Mallon been given extra information on the powers of the regional assembly?

It would be wonderful for a Northern assembly to have the same powers and finance as Scotland, Wales and London to decide our own fate.

But I feel that a number of restraints will be put on the assembly as already Nick Raynsford has stated that the assembly will have a 25-seat restraint so that the assembly does not trample on local authorities or try to usurp their functions.

Then there are the mandarins of government departments who are sure to put up a fight about any loss of power.
JR Stoker, Brandon.