Research ignored

The Journal 01/03/2005

Democracy should not play second fiddle to focus groups. The Government made a manifesto commitment to offer the North-East an assembly vote and it did so despite research that suggested it would result in a resounding `No'.

And so it came to pass. It is amazing none of the issues identified - particularly that voters wanted to be persuaded an assembly would offer `visible change' (ie greater powers) were addressed.

We question not so much the expense of a vote as that of research completely ignored.