Letter : Independent

Regional referendum
Sir:
Charles Kennedy and Tony Blair have made a desperate appeal to North East voters to vote Yes in the assembly referendum on the basis that England is an over-centralised state. That is certainly true.However, the reality is that this devolution sham does not change the fundamentals at all. The health service, policing, education and all areas of legislation and financial controls will remain in the hands of Westminster.
It is not honest that the ballot asks people to vote for a North East assembly on the grounds of devolution, when there is no significant area of economic or political power being devolved. The only change will be the back door abolition of many local councils and powers being centralised upwards.We urge all voters to cast a No vote against this plan.
Cllr STEVE RADFORD
President of The Liberal Party
Tuebrook,
Liverpool