NESNO walking into punch after punch

No campaigners 'quango addicts'
Sep 18 2004
By Ross Smith, The Journal

Campaigners against a regional assembly were yesterday accused of being quango addicts and opposing devolution out of self-interest.

Former Euro-MP Alan Donnelly launched the stinging attack on North-East Says No council members at a `yes' campaign meeting in South Shields.

He claimed the opposition stemmed from the fact that an assembly would take charge of several functions currently run by appointed boards on which some `No' campaigners have sat.

But Nesno members last night insisted they only wanted what was best for the region and accused Mr Donnelly of "shooting the messenger".
Mr Donnelly said: "It seems to be basically a very strange group of people. Many of them are quango addicts.
"It's not surprising many of them wouldn't want a regional assembly because it would mean the end of the cushy jobs they've had for themselves for 10 or 20 years."
Yes4theNorthEast campaign director Ross Forbes said Mr Donnelly's view was not one officially held by the organisation. But he conceded that many Nesno members had sat on quangos.

They include chairman John Elliott, a former director of County Durham Business Link and Wear Valley Development Agency.
But Mr Elliott vehemently denied Mr Donnelly's claim.
He said: "I've never gained a penny financially from sitting on these bodies. In fact it's cost me money, but I'm not objecting to that because I did it to put something back into the community.
"If anybody on our campaign is in it for any other reason than the good of the North-East, I'd be amazed.
"Let's talk about what's on offer. Let's talk about the assembly and what powers it has and hasn't got. That's the issue, not shooting the messenger."

Fellow Nesno member Ian Dormer, director of Rosh Engineering, said he was never paid during his time as chairman of Tyne and Wear Business Link, but did it to put something back into society.
"An awful lot of effort goes into this for no personal gain. It sounds old-fashioned but most people who volunteer for these bodies do so because they believe in the North-East passionately," he said.
"It's not the status quo we are after but what we are being offered is not good enough, frankly. It's not going to deliver the results we need in the North-East, it's not going to control or have additional funding - it's going to give politicians more jobs and that's what we object to."

And Lord Vinson, chairman of the North-East Civic Trust until 2001, said it was a case of "the pot calling the kettle black".
"My work was entirely voluntary. If there is one clear example of self-interest it comes from (regional development agency) One NorthEast, which is one of the major thrusts of the `Yes' campaign.
"We will see democratic representation stretched and regional representatives who people will neither know nor see."

Conspiracy over designation grows

The statement by the Electoral Commission that the decision to designate NESNO was made on Monday 13th September is to be questioned. Evidence to follow. Make your own minds up.

The Newcastle Journal
17th September
Herron backers to challenge poll decision
Supporters of anti-assembly campaigner Neil Herron are set to challenge the decision not to make him the official No campaign leader in the North-East, it has been revealed.

In one of the most extraordinary twists in the battle over regional assemblies, backers of the North East No campaign have pledged to question the Electoral Commission's designation procedures, warning their decision has gone against the will of the public in the region.

On Tuesday Mr Herron's group lost out in the race to North East Says No, which becomes the official No campaign in the North East and picks up £100,000 of public money.

But now Lord David Stoddart of Swindon, chair of the Campaign for Independent Britain, is backing the metric martyrs, accusing the Electoral Commission of sidelining the North East No campaign.
"I am rather surprised at the decision," Lord Stoddart explained.
"He has been campaigning on this issue for a long period of time and is very well known in the area.
"The North East Says No campaign as far as I can see has only just started. Neil is as close to the grassroots as anyone could be and that's something the Electoral Commission should have looked at.
"I only hope the Commission has not been put under any pressure by the Government."

Conspiracy theories have suggested that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott influenced the decision in favour of John Elliot's NESNO campaign, because it has backing from the Conservative Party.

But that was immediately dismissed by the Electoral Com mission, with a spokeswoman saying the Government played "no part at all in any decision. It was a decision made only on Monday September 13."

In the meantime, Mr Herron has pledged to carry on his anti-assembly campaign in the run-up to voting on November 4, saying: "We are going to continue to say no to this idea but as the people's campaign.
"We were very disappointed with the decision but this is not sour grapes.
"We just want to ask the Electoral Commission which boxes we didn't tick as a group, because the last thing this campaign should descend into is a party political debate."

Shambles now about to become absolute chaos

What Raynsford hasn't figured is that we are now in the 'Purdah period' where no more information can be put into the public domain...begins 28 days prior to the first ballot papers going out on 18th October. This has been confirmed by the Electoral Commission's Head of Referendums, Douglas Stewart.

The other problem is that it is not only Durham's leaflets that have to be corrected... it is the 1,900,000 as all of these voters could influence the decision by voting Yes which will lead to the knock on effect in the areas with two questions.

Resignations must follow...

No Campaign legal threat imminent.

Home rule costs blunder
Sep 17 2004
By Ross Smith, The Journal
The Government has admitted getting its sums wrong over the likely cost of local government reorganisation in County Durham.

Switching to a system of three unitary authorities across the county would cost £11m more than originally thought, local government minister Nick Raynsford (pictured) admitted.
Now, 200,000 new information leaflets are having to be sent out to households in County Durham correcting the mistake.

The news is a boost to the county council, which favours the alternative option of having one authority across the whole area.

The Government's corrected figures show that option would cost £37m to implement, with the three-council option costing £49m.

Voters will choose which system they would prefer in a referendum at the same time as the regional assembly poll.

Should an assembly get the go-ahead, the two-tier local government system in Durham and Northumberland will be abolished.

Mr Raynsford said: "We will shortly be writing to all households in County Durham correcting this error.
"The Government will meet the costs of implementing either option, as stated in the leaflet."
Durham County Council leader Ken Manton said: "We have always maintained, from the very outset, that it would cost significantly more to set up any multiple of all-purpose councils rather than just the one.
"We have also maintained that a cluster of unitaries would cost many millions of pounds more a year to run than one.
"Our latest estimates, based on the most comprehensive exercise yet carried out, suggest it will cost almost £25m a year more to run three unitary councils than one."
Meanwhile, there was a blow for regional assembly campaigners yesterday when the Institute of Directors rejected plans for devolution.

In a poll of members in the North-East region, 82pc opposed an elected assembly. But the response rate to the survey was only 10pc.
Mr McGawley said: "The fact that 90pc of our members chose not to register an opinion indicates a worrying lack conviction on the issue and possibly points to increased apathy following months of campaigning for the cause."

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott yesterday announced plans to give any elected assembly in the North-East the power to run Newcastle and Gateshead's pathfinder housing project in the even of a `yes' vote.
The scheme is one of nine in the country sharing a £500m Government pot to tackle housing blackspots and areas of low demand.

Unveiling the plans, Mr Raynsford said: "We think that this responsibility would sit well with elected assemblies' strategic housing powers."

Undecided? Yes or No? More champagne Sir?

BBC distances itself from the Bollinger at St. James' Park

Last Saturday (11th September) saw another round on the campaign trail. This time it was for the BBC, again in Newcastle. They have picked four people from across the North East who are currently 'undecided' as to how they are to vote in the forthcoming referendum on 4th November.

The format of the programme was to have the Yes and No campaigns present their arguments separately over a half hour period and snippets would be used on the run-in to the vote. The four 'undecideds' could then take on board the arguments and formulate their opinion.

The Baltic was chosen as the venue and I turned up to represent the North East No Campaign. They also had John Elliott of the newly formed conservative NESNO group.

Producers and crews arrived and there was banter about designation for the 'No' group being decided in a few days. John mentioned that they (NESNO) were all going to the event on Tuesday at the Copthorne. They had received a call the previous day from the Electoral Commission. He seemed confident, saying that he thought it was 60 / 40 in their favour. It surprised me because he said he hadn't even seen their application. It also surprised me as we had not received a call from the Electoral Commission. We had been told we were all getting the call Tuesday morning and only the designated organisation would be invited.

We went inside with the four and chatted in the lift on the way up.

As usual I played the Sunderland card and asked if anyone was from the Cinderella City. One worked in Sunderland, but all four confessed that they were Newcastle supporters. Amber, the youngest at 19, and the only female, announced that she came from the Wear Valley but supported the 'Toon.'

We went up to the fifth floor. Bare room. Bare walls, but a lovely view of the Tyne. The BBC's Richard and Damien explained the format...half an hours worth of chat and questions from the 'four' to the 'two.'
"Any coffee?"
"No, sorry. No water either."
We stood and waited as we got wired up.
Then Richard came in with six chairs that looked as if they had been stolen from the seven dwarfs.
"You're having a laugh," I said. "You expect us to perch our backsides on those tiny, uncomfortable things? We will look ridiculous, especially the guy who is 6ft 6 (2 metres in metric)."

So we did. Half an hour later it was in the bag.

We went outside and filmed the 'coming in' shots and then they had to dash to do the Yes Campaign's arguments.
"Thanks for the coffee Richard. What about the expenses for the helicopter getting here? I forgot to get a receipt."
Too late they were off.

John and I bought our own coffees in the restauraant and paid our own parking.

They had had to dash because they wanted to get set up before the match. The 'Yes' arguments were being filmed at St. James' Park with Sir John Hall and opera singer, Suzannah Clarke presenting the case. Location...in the Director's box of course.
Hopefully the four Newcastle United supporting ' undecideds' were a bit more comfortable listening to Sir John and Suzannah than they were to Herron and Elliott perched on kindergarten chairs.

I called Richard Moss, BBC'S Political Editor a few days later and asked if he enjoyed the corporate hospitality.
"We only had coffee and biscuits," he replied.
"Chocolate ones?"
"There may have been small chocolate chips present," he replied. "I know where you are going. We didn't stay for the match Herron."

At a speaking engagement on Thursday in Weardale, at Stanhope Methodist Chapel, I bumped into Amber, one of the four. Hats off to her as she is taking a very close interest in all the arguments.

"I hope you enjoyed the corporate hospitality, courtesy of Sir John. What type of champagne did you have?" I asked.

"The champagne was Bollinger and BBC left before dinner was served in the Director's box. I left the others to watch the match and share the champagne with Sir John," she replied honestly.

Newcastle beat Blackburn 3 - 0. I hope the four 'undecideds' are the same as the majority of the North East public who will make the decision based totally and purely on the FACTS.

It would be interesting to know if the BBC chose the venue or simply allowed the Yes campaign to come up with the location.

John and I were simply told to turn up at the Baltic at 10 am.

Discredited Electoral Commission and the Betrayal of the Peoples' Campaign

To All,

It has been a very busy week with a press and media maelstrom following the shock announcement by the Electoral Commission to award Designation as the 'official' No Campaign in the NE to the recently formed Conservative construct NESNO, dubbed by the press and media YESNO.

The 'Peoples' No Campaign will continue the fight free from party politics, but as it will be seen, the decision by the Electoral Commission will see this Conservative group lurch from crisis to crisis because of their lack of understanding of the issue and their naievity in hand to hand combat as campaigners. London Tory boys do not know the North East and this is becoming increasingly evident.

We warned of this months ago that this would happen, but they still went ahead and formed a rival group to challenge the hugely successful 'Peoples' Campaign' who had had the opposition on the ropes since exposing the unelected Assembly for misusing public money nearly two years ago.

The spotlight is shining on the YESNO Campaign and who they really are. Unfortunately for them they will not be yesterday's fish and chip wrappers because the story goes too deep and is intertwined with the bizarre decision by the Electoral Commission to award them designation.

The Labour Party and the Yes Campaign are preparing to carve them up on a daily basis.They have walked straight into the trap.

The soap opera that will unfold over the coming weeks will see the Conservative Party suffering death by a thousand cuts and their incompetence exposed with embarassing consequences for all concerned.

The implications for those in the Electoral Commission who have been party to this unbelievable decision will unfold in time.We are making preparations to make the North East No Campaign's application available to the House of Lords Library. The consequences of the decision by the Electoral Commission has implications for the big battle ahead...the referendum on the European Constitution.

At the minute, as self-preservation kicks in, we are receiving more leaks than a judge in a Working Men's Club annual horticultural contest...and speaking of judges, there is a remarkable ironic twist in this saga of deceit, back-stabbing and betrayal that will make everyone's jaws drop. The implications are far reaching and we could see scenes reminiscent of the Pinochet case.

As events unfold over the coming weeks you will be staggered.

The Peoples' North East No Campaign will achieve a 'No' vote on November 4th. The die will be cast next week after the revelations in tomorrows Sunday Telegraph.

Neil H
Campaign Director
North East No Campaign

To follow events as they unfold
please visit www.neilherron.blogspot.com and www.northeastnocampaign.co.uk

To see the officially designated No campaign's contribution to date please visit North East Says No at www.northeastsaysno.co.uk and help them get their hit rate up from 55.

Another Cock-up by the now discredited Electoral Commission

Mail mix-up hits post poll chiefs
Sep 14 2004
By Ross Smith, The Journal

The organisation overseeing November's regional assembly postal vote was last night mired in its own mail mix up.

The Electoral Commission sent the wrong reports on postal voting to interested parties in the North-East.

The organisation blames "errors in distribution" for the mistake, which saw people who gave evidence on the North-East experiment receive detailed assessments of what went wrong in other regions.

Three supporters of independent European election candidate Neil Herron were sent reports into the trial in the North-West, as was Tory Euro-MP Martin Callanan and one of his backers.
Another person in the North-East who raised concerns with the commission was given the full story of what had gone wrong in Yorkshire.

Opponents of the postal voting system said last night the mistake cast doubt on the commission's ability to manage 1.9 million postal votes in the referendum.

The Electoral Commission was asked to assess the postal voting trials which took place in the region during the local and European elections in June.

The North-East polls were blighted by printing problems which left staff battling against the clock to get ballot packs out before a Government deadline, and problems with a witness statement form which caused 18,744 European election votes to be declared invalid.

In its report, the commission said no future elections would use the same method, but stated it was too late to stop the North-East assembly referendum going ahead on an all-postal basis. Voters in that poll, however, will not need to complete a witness statement.

And after the wrong reports arrived, opponents of the system said it showed why it needed to be scrapped.
Judith Wallace, chairwoman of the North-East No Campaign which opposes devolution, said: "We can't even rely on the Electoral Commission to get its reports out, never mind the millions of ballot papers that have got to get to the electorate in the referendum."

And she raised concerns as to whether a similar mix-up could have caused representations sent to the commission about the ballots in the North-East to be linked to other regions. Mr Callanan said: "They're learning what everybody else discovered in the European elections.
"I think it's a useful indication of the dangers of relying on the post for essential documentation."
Gateshead Liberal Democrat councillor Jonathan Wallace, a fierce critic of the system during the recent elections, said: "This problem highlights the dangers of material going by post. It can go astray or the wrong piece of paper can go to the wrong person.
"Until we can get that sort of problem sorted then we have to give people the option to use a polling station."

The Electoral Commission said: "We're aware that there were some errors in distribution of the report. We've notified our distribution centre and they will be working to rectify the problem in the next couple of days."

Just to Refresh you

The Times
August 26, 2004 'Bribery and fraud rife' in postal vote
By Dominic Kennedy and David Charter
INTIMIDATION, bribery and fraud were widespread in the June local elections, according to court documents seen by The Times as a report is expected to demand sweeping changes to postal voting.

Fot those of you who missed it, the full article can be read here.

Remember that we were told by the now discredited Electoral Commission that no such things happened in the North East.

Remember that this is the same Electoral Commission that recently sent all those in the NE who raised complaints and concerns, the 'Evaluation Reports' of the all postal ballot trials...for the North West! To read that report click here.

Electoral Commission about to be discredited?

The cue is in the question
Sept 15 2004 By Evening Gazette
I am writing to complain about the wording of the preamble to the referendum question. In particular the statement that the "elected regional assembly would be responsible for a range of activities carried out mainly by central government bodies".

In psychological terms such a use of wording is deemed a "demand characteristic"; subtle cues in the wording of a question or statement toinfluence the subject to behave in a certain way.

Prescott's PR machine has tried to reinforce the impression that regionalisation and devolution are synonyms; they are not.

The wording of the ballot paper implies that what is on offer is devolution when in fact the elected regional assembly will be responsible for a range of activities mainly carried out by local, not central, government bodies.

This is anti-devolution; withdrawing decision-making from grass-rootscommunities, taking power further away from the people.What is on offer here is regionalisation.

If the Electoral Commission allows the electorate to be so cynically manipulatedthen both the result of the referendum, and the Electoral Commission itself,will be discredited.
GARETH YOUNG Campaign for an English Parliament

Who knew NESNO were the No Campaign?

No campaign has no answers
The decision by the North East Says No Campaign to decline to give oral evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee (15th September) scrutinising the Bill setting out the powers and functions of a future North East Assembly has been criticised today by the Northern TUC.

Kevin Rowan, TUC Regional Secretary said:
"The decision by North East Says No to decide against giving oral evidence to the ODPM Select Committee confirms our view that the 'No Campaign' has no case for suggesting that the people of the North East should not be given a greater say over the decisions that affect their everyday lives."

Notes to Editors:
The North East Says No Campaign was scheduled to give oral evidence to the ODPM Select Committee on Wednesday 15 September 2004.
Yes 4 the North East will be giving oral evidence to the Committee on Wednesday 15 September 2004.

Mallon Ponders Role In 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.
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.
I can remember Sir John Hall encouraging everyone in Gateshead and Newcastle to vote Labour in the June Local Government elections.
There will not be an Assembly dominated by '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 desperate for information and facts and there is non forthcoming?
Give us a call Ray. Number is below. Don't worry, we are not the Conservatives. We are truly independent.
Neil Herron
Campaign Director
North East No Campaign
Frederick Street
Sunderland
0191 565 7143

Constituencies Decided ...after a Yes vote

North-East Regional Assembly: Constituencies

Lord Rooker: The Government are today publishing a consultation paper on draft guidance to the Electoral Commission on drawing up the constituencies for a north-east regional assembly.

If, following a Yes vote in the referendum on the establishment of a regional assembly in the north-east, the Secretary of State proposes that a regional assembly should be established, the Government will direct the Electoral Commission to provide advice on the drawing up of the electoral areas for a north-east

14 Sept 2004 : Column WS116regional assembly. This direction will be accompanied by statutory guidance on what the Electoral Commission should take into account in preparing its advice. It is this guidance on which we are consulting.
The consultation paper includes a full draft of the guidance the Secretary of State proposes to issue. The Secretary of State proposes to direct the Electoral Commission to provide advice on:
the number of electoral areas;

the electoral areas into which the north-east is to be divided; and

the name by which these electoral areas are to be known.

Therefore, the draft guidance sets out the matters the Government feel that the Electoral Commission should take into account when preparing its advice. The Secretary of State is not proposing to seek the commission's advice on the total number of members for a north-east assembly.

A copy of this consultation paper will be available in the House of Lords Library and in the "Regions" section of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website. The end date for the consultation is 22 October 2004.

What have they done? Its now Conservative vs Labour

Labour response to NESNO designation
14th September 2004
For immediate release

Labour calls on NO campaign to come clean about Tory links
Labour's Ashok Kumar MP has called on North East Says NO to come clean about their links with the Conservative Party.

The call comes as NESNO are designated as the official no campaign for the North East Regional Assembly referendum. Ashok Kumar said: "I can reveal today that almost 20% of NESNO backers are either Tory politicians or Tory donors. It is clear that the links between North East Says No and the Conservatives run very deep. "The names we have revealed today are only the tip of the iceberg and NESNO must now come clean about the extent of their links to the Conservative Party.

Labour and Yes For The North East are running complementary but separate campaigns however it appears that the NO campaign is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tories. "How much money have the Tories given to NESNO? How much support have Tory staffers given? How often do they co-ordinate their plans to deny the people of the North East the powers to run their own affairs? "Labour wants the people of the North East to take the power to run their own affairs. I believe we have achieved a lot already but with an Elected Assembly we could achieve so much more. The Government has already transferred power to Scotland and Wales, this is the next step in giving power back to the regions of England."
-ends-

For further information please contact
Colin Edgar on 07866 442 873

Notes Of the fifty supporters listed on the NESNO web site, nine are either current Tory politicians, failed Tory candidates or listed on the electoral commission web site as Tory donors.

The Supporters who have links with the Tories are listed below:

John Elliott MBE, Chair of NESNO and Tory Party donor

Sir David Kelly CBE, Director of NESNO and former Director of Tory Party donor Kelly Packaging

Sir Tom Cowie OBE, NESNO Council member and Tory Party Donor

Ian Dewhirst, NESNO Council member and former Director of Tory Party donor Dewhirst Group

Lord Elliott of Morpeth, NESNO Council member and Tory Peer

Joan Halbert, NESNO Council member and former Director of Tory Party donor Kilfrost

Peter Scrope, NESNO Council member and Tory candidate for Darlington, 1997

Lord Vinson, NESNO Council member and Tory Peer


Graham Robb, NESNO spokesman, North East Tory Spokesman and former Tory candidate.

Electoral Commission Decides

In a shock announcement this morning the Electoral Commission announced that they were Designating the Conservative NESNO set up on July 13th this year, as the official No organisation.
We have had a busy day with a totally confused North East press. They are aware of the Conservative / UKIP alliance.
The North East No Campaign, the Peoples Campaign, will continue.
More will follow.
Neil H

Rural Communities uncertain over benefits of an Assembly

Northumberland Today
2nd September
Doubts remain over rural benefits
DESPITE further reassurance, Northumberland's rural community remains unsure of the benefits of a regional assembly.

The North East Rural Affairs Forum met Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford this week to discuss what impact an elected regional assembly would have on the rural economy if voted for in November.The Rural Affairs Forum is made up of representatives of a number of organisations concerned with the rural community from across the whole region, such as the Countryside Agency, the Environment Agency and the National Farmers' Union.

Although the aim of the meeting in Stannington village hall was to air any concerns about an elected regional assembly, it seemed there are still doubts over the benefits for north Northumberland.

While Mr Raynsford responded to the concerns put to him with confidence, it is feared this may change if the assembly is established.

Miles Middleton, chairman of the Regional Affairs Forum, said: "The problem is we voiced our concerns and his answers for all of them were perfectly logical and acceptable. How the elected members deliver once they are in power is the question."

Mr Raynsford said one of the main issues they had been discussing was the development of business and trade within the region.He sees this as one of the 'big issues' of the assembly and said there should be little problem in boosting the business economy in the North East.

He said: "There is a huge advantage in the North East of not just rapidly growing cities, but you have also got wonderful countryside and this is a very positive message for people looking to invest."

To avoid rural areas being left out of decision-making processes if a regional assembly was to go ahead, Mr Raynsford said focus groups will be set up throughout the region to put forward the views of the public.

He said: "We have made a provision for the assembly to have groups as part of their working methods. I talked to the forum today about how important it would be that these groups worked well."

But highlighting Mr Middleton's fears he added that although these groups are a recommended part of the assembly, 'in the end it is up to them to get them'.

Mr Raynsford also hopes the introduction of a regional assembly will boost the tourism industry in the area. He said: "We will be taking positive measures to encourage tourism. A huge number of tourists are coming from Scotland, so there is a huge potential of opportunities. "There are a number of first class tourist attractions in rural Northumberland such as Alnwick Garden, Hadrian's Wall and the national park, so I think there is everything to play for to increase and improve the tourism economy here in the North East as a whole."

Although Mr Raynsford remains positive, Mr Middleton is still unsure of the outcome.

He said: "The people in Northumberland have genuine fears that they will be ignored in the interest of the urban communities."I would like to see more control by central government over the activities of the elected assembly to make sure they deliver their promises."I think their promises are potentially genuine, but I would have liked to have seen some powers retained in Northumberland."

02 September 2004

Cross and Non Party Coalition

Press Release
North East No Campaign
Monday September 13th

"Newcastle Lib Dem Councillor Joins the No Campaign"

The Peoples' North East No Campaign today welcomes Newcastle Lib Dem Councillor, Gerry Keating, on board the campaign.

Gerry states, "There are three good reasons why people should vote against a Regional Assembly for the North East:

- None of its few powers can be "used to enforce the co-operation of other bodies or people". What then is the point of such powers?

-The region is the poorest in Britain, but money will continue to be stolen from us to support Regional Government in Scotland and Wales.

-A North East Regional Assembly would have no extra resources apart from those raised by a huge increase in Council Tax.
Any government would be able to use a North East Assembly as an alibi for its own deficiencies in the region."

North East No Campaign Director, Neil Herron welcomed the news. "It is great to have Gerry on board and it will widen the No debate and get the message across to the people of the North East that they are being offered 'fake' devolution. It shows that the Peoples' Campaign is not run or controlled, overtly or covertly, by a single political party and its supporters."

ENDS

Neil Herron
Campaign Director
North East No Campaign www.northeastnocampaign.co.uk
Tel. 0191 565 7143 / 07776 202045

More Outrageous claims by Prescott

Prescott rejects 'fake' charge
Sep 11 2004
Sandy Mckenzie, Evening Gazette

An elected regional assembly for the North-East was slammed as "fake devolution" at a major debate held by the Evening Gazette last night.

But the attack by Bernard Jenkin, Conservative Shadow Spokesman for the Regions, was shouted down by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who urged Teesside to back an elected assembly in the November 4 referendum.

The audience of nearly 250 was evenly split between the 'Yes' and 'No' camps in a show of hands at the end of the lively two-hour debate on the issue.

Mr Prescott had played the leading role for 'Yes' campaigners at the event held in front of TV cameras at Teesside University's Innovation lecture theatre, with Mr Jenkin leading the 'No' campaign's panel. Mr Prescott was in bullish form as he said: "We want a 'Yes' vote in this referendum because the status quo is unacceptable.
"Although there's been some progress in recent years, the differentials still continue and we are disadvantaged compared to the South."
He said that when people looked at the arguments there was only one option to make a real difference for a more prosperous future - a 'Yes' vote.
"'Yes' for more jobs, 'Yes' for more growth, 'Yes' for a stronger voice for the North-east, 'Yes' for change, 'Yes' for a better future for all its people," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

But Mr Jenkin slammed the regional assembly proposals and said: "This is fake devolution - not the real thing.
"The pro-assembly hype is not matched by what is actually set out in the draft Bill and there would be no extra money for the North-east."
He added: "More professional politicians and bureaucrats, more of the same old faces, would be a drag on the North-east economy.
"This referendum is a chance to send a message to all politicians - this deal is not nearly good enough."

Also on the panel for the 'Yes' campaign were Professor John Tomaney, chairman of the Yes4theNorthEast campaign, and Teesside professional opera singer and ambassador for Middlesbrough Suzannah Clarke.

Joining Mr Jenkin on the 'No' side were businessman John Elliott, chairman of the No campaign, and Newcastle University's professor of education policy James Tooley.

Evening Gazette editor Steve Dyson chaired the event with Gerry Foley, Tyne Tees TV's political editor.

Mr Dyson said today: "Issues about the proposed elected assembly were given a thorough airing and it helped enormously to give people more information about issues surrounding what will be a crucial vote for the region."

A selection of composite questions from scores submitted by Evening Gazette readers were put to the panel.

They covered issues ranging from the cost of an assembly and where it would be based, to what powers it would have and if Tyneside would dominate such an assembly.

There is nothing like a dose of self-interest to sharpen the mind

Prescott warned on local powers
Sep 11 2004By Ross Smith,
The Journal
Councillors have launched a fight to stop their powers being usurped by aNorth-East Assembly.

The Local Government Association has submitted evidence to a House of Commons committee saying responsibilities will be taken from councils if an assembly is established.And the LGA fears a clause in the Government's draft bill which allows extra powers to be conferred on assemblies without full Parliamentary debate will lead to more roles being transferred up.

Its concerns have been spelled out to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister select committee.

In particular, the body opposes decisions on housing and fire services being taken regionally.The LGA has been led by the Conservatives since they became the dominant party in local government in June, but stresses its views represent a consensus of members.

LGA project officer Iain Twine said: "Elected regional assemblies must draw powers from local government, which is already operating them effectively."We want to make sure that if there are to be any more powers drawn up from local government, it will require primary legislation with a full debate."Because of their distance from members of the public, assembly members will nothave the same idea as councillors what local issues are."

Newcastle Council leader Peter Arnold agreed: "The worry is that ministers could determine to remove something from local authorities and give it to regional assemblies."The powers should come from central government and quangos. Local government should be left to get on with the job it's best at - delivering local services."

Mr Twine also cast doubt on the Government's claim that part of thecost of the assembly can be paid for out of money saved from local government reorganisation.

But Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, on a visit to Corbridge,Northumberland, yesterday, said: "An assembly would not reproduce local government - it would take strategic decisions that fit in."Counties cannot deal with strategic decisions for the North-East. But Parliament will still have to approve any extra powers."

It emerged yesterday the North-East will be the only referendum on regional government before the next general election.

Mr Prescott is set to postpone again plans for votes in the North-West and Yorkshire and the Humber until at least next summer, when Tony Blair is expected to take the nation to the polls.

Westminster sources confirmed that Mr Prescott's office would make a statement to MPs on Monday outlining the next steps for referendums in the two postponed regions.It was also conceded that no vote was likely until after any general election, leaving the North-East to go it alone.

Recent Letters

Prescott faces struggleSep 11 2004
By Middlesbrough Evening Gazette
John Prescott is facing an uphill struggle to win a referendum on RegionalAssemblies in November.

The Yorkshire folk, helped by a very successful Yorkshire Says No campaign, have rejected it wholeheartedly.

East Riding County Council has pulled out, calling it a money-wasting talkingshop.

In North Yorkshire nine local authorities have agreed to discuss theirmembership at their next meeting in October.I sincerely hope the North-east will follow their example and say no.

Prescott's brief to create the European regions is beginning to look a trifledoomed.
MRS B STARK
Hull

I WOULD like to pose a few questions on John Prescott's leaflet An ElectedAssembly For The North-east.I

f an assembly is voted in, how many MPs and councillors will be without jobs?

And if no jobs are lost why do we need yet another level of Government?

Why have Newcastle, Gateshead, Hartlepool and Stockton had millions of poundsspent on redevelopment schemes when Middlesbrough and Redcar have had verylittle or none at all?

Why are we having to vote on this matter when leaflets cover County Durham andNorthumberland only - with no mention of Darlington, Hartlepool or areas southof the River Tees?

When we changed from Cleveland County to separate borough councils they all said it would be cheaper to have four councils instead of one.How can four have the purchasing power that Cleveland Council had. Also four CEOs and all the other extra staff required means duplication in a lot of cases?

Conned before by politicians but not again.

Look at the overspend on the Scottish Parliament building. Would that be repeated here?

Welsh and Scottish MPs should not vote on matters concerning England only, as English MPs cannot vote on Welsh or Scottish matters.
ROGER THOMAS Redcar

Hexham Courant
NONSENSE
Published on Friday, September 10th 2004
I NOTE that in recent propaganda in the North-East the Labour Party is trying to associate the opposition to regional government solely with Conservatives.

This is of course a nonsense.

Large numbers of Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters also oppose the break up of our local government system for the sake of the totally alien "regionalism" which the European Union is forcing (via Blair's Eurofanatic Government) on the people of Britain.

We know from Foreign Office papers that even in the early 1970s the British Government knew that the surrender of our national sovereignty to Brussels would mean a regional system of Government for the United Kingdom.

From the point of view of Brussels, the best way to remove powers from the legitimate national governments in national capitals was to have their respective "regions" report directly to the EU Commission in Brussels, bypassing Westminster.

When I looked not long ago at the names of those people supporting the regionalist One NorthEast, it was remarkable how many of them were also supporters of The North-East in Europe. The connection is clear. The democratic majority of all political parties will reject regional rule as fervently as they reject Euro-rule.

It falls to the North-East (specially selected by a Government which will only ask those they think will give the right answer) to give a resounding NO to Mr Blair and his regional political careerists.
Rodney Atkinson,
Meadowfield Road,
Stocksfield

Regional Assemblies entering their twilight years...elected or unelected.

ABOLITION DRIVE GATHERS STRENGTH
Western News11:00 - 02 September 2004
Tory MPs have pledged to step up their campaign to abolish the South West Regional Assembly as new figures revealed its wage bill has risen by 75 per cent in three years.

Financial records for the secretariat - which provides administrative and advisory support to the unelected regional assembly and other bodies - show it cost £1,788,899 in salaries over the last 12 months, compared with £1.5 million in the previous year.

Three years ago the wage bill was only £1m. The accounts found expenditure by regional civil servants on travel and hospitality fees, training and conferences also went up.

Overall the assembly cost more than £4m to run compared to £2.8m in 2001-02.

The revelations come at a time when an elected regional assembly for the South West appears further away than ever.The announcement by the Government in July that referendums in two out of the three areas in the first wave of assemblies had been postponed, has put a further dent in the flagship policy.

Tory MPs in the South West claim the move makes the prospect of an elected assembly for a region stretching from Gloucestershire to the Isles of Scilly more remote than ever and are likely to turn their anger on the unelected South West Regional Assembly after Parliament returns following the recess next week.

The assembly meets at County Hall in Exeter and the city is the most likely location for any future elected assembly."It has always been my view that these bodies should be abolished if an elected regional assembly is rejected by the voters and I will continue to argue this," said East Devon MP Hugo Swire."They are costing more and more and merely duplicate the responsibilities of many other people including MPs. They are a complete waste of money."

In Devon people have enough to pay for given high council tax rises and rises in water bills. They should not have the added bureaucracy of the South West Regional Assembly."

Assembly chief executive Bryony Houlden has responded: "The reality is that we are not a huge bureaucracy. It is a pretty small team and a pretty low wage bill. We have got more responsibilities as well because we are now the regional planning body."

"Me? A cynic? Is it not obvious?"

BBC and the Four 'Don't Knows'
Saturday 11th September.

Whilst most people were enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning, I was out with John Elliott ( who was the Chairman of our North East No Campaign, now the Chairman of North East Says No...the rival to the Peoples' Campaign, but who will come back and work with us when, sorry, if, we get designation...confused? So is everyone else! ) at the Baltic Arts Centre in Newcastle.

Touch of culture you may ask? Herron gone cosmopolitan?

No, this was a pre-record for BBC. Their intention was to bring in four random 'undecideds' and get them to hear, seperatel, both sides of the debate. They will then be better informed and can then make an educated assessment of what they are voting for.

The four undecideds arrived. A young female psychology student, and three gentlemen,
an IT expert, a financial consultant and a fireman.

In the chit chat in the lift it transpired that they were all Newcastle supporters. Funny that it was the first question that I asked. Funny that the BBC didn't.

We arrived at the top floor of the Baltic in a open room with panoramic views of the Sage Music Centre, the Millennium Bridge and the rest of the wonderful development on the Quayside.

The 20 x 20 room itself was bare. Wooden floors. White walls and at one end, the big window. No pictures on the wall. Not even a copy of Constable's 'Haywain,' to take off the bareness. Members of the public were milling around the sides and towards the view. BBC set up their pitch, with two cameras, mikes and so on.

Six plain wooden chairs were brought in. From the size of them I think there would only be one dwarf left at the kitchen table, but at least Snow White would be all alone feeling Happy.

I thought it the chairs were perhaps from an exhibition...but no, we had to sit on them. The guy who was 6ft 6" (2m I believe, according to BBC rules now) looked the most uncomfortable.

There were no offers of coffee or even water. Not a chance of a table. Six basic, uncomfortable chairs in a plain room.

Half an hour of batting backwards and forwards and a few statements from the No Camp and it was over.
Chats in the lift on the way down. Pre- shots and greeting shots outside and then the BBC and the four had to dash to get to the similar event in front of the Yes Campaign.

John and I went and bought our own coffee and checked our watches to see if we had enough time left on the meter in the car park for a top-up. The BBC had jokingly asked how we got here and when I said by helicopter, but forgot to ask for an invoice, there was no offer forthcoming.

We drank up and left. I made my way to the next event. A gathering of Church groups some 15 miles away. John was off in the other direction with horses on his mind...and after winning (dead heat) a group race (his horse not him) at Doncaster on Thursday who can blame him. I am sure that the half of the £60k prize money will help cover the expenses the BBC are reluctant to offer...and I wouldn't blame him for jumping on the back of one of his steeds and galloping off into the sunset rather than keep turning up trying to fight the battle on such an unlevel playing field, with the biggest attempted stitch up in recent political history.

Oh, and the four unconvinced / unsure / undecided?

They were being whisked off to the Director's Box at St. James' Park to do their piece with Mr. Newcastle United, Sir John Hall and opera singer, Suzannah Clarke of the Yes Campaign. The BBC were in a rush because they had to get the filming done and put together because it was a home game. I am not sure how many stayed for the match, and if offered, I am sure they all declined.

I trust, however, that the four Newcastle United supporters would take the 'Yes' arguments on their merits and were not swayed or coerced in any way, and I am sure that the corporate hospitality did not get in the way of filming.

I am sure that two of the four were 'trainee' cynics, and had sussed Prescott's three card trick, but if I were them I would only make my mind up with Ballot Paper in hand ;-)

As for me, I entered the arena four years ago as a fresher. My Master's course is not far from being finished...and then perhaps a Professorship in Cynicism from the University of Establishment Spin, Duplicity and Deceit.

I have faith in the North East public not to fall for the fraud...and today endorsed the lack of understanding or respect that people caught up in the Newcastle bubble have for the rest of the region.

Sir John Hall, with a Bottle of Newcastle Broon in hand on a billboard in Sunderland saying, "Vote for Wor Geordie Parliament," will have everyone sharpening their pencils.

"We are giving you a referendum you never asked for. Isn't that democratic?"

NEW LABOUR's 'DEMOCRATIC' CREDENTIALS (FROM 2002)

* New Labour's record of commitment to 'democracy' is very poor.Remember the Party vote on the choice of London mayoral candidate? MPswere given one thousand votes each, party members one vote.

* The people of Gibraltar want to stay British and are heavily opposedto the 'sovereignty-sharing' (i.e. surrendering) agreement with Spain.Blair, of course, will ignore their referendum result.

* Despite 90% overall opposition, and 75% from business, John Prescotttransferred county councils' housing planning powers. to (unelected)regional bodies. (Telegraph, 19.7.02).

* New Lab's mania for uprooting local government hit trouble after 15out of 22 referendums rejected "continental" elected mayors, at a costof £2.5m and turnouts averaging 30%. (Times, 19.7.02).

* Of course, when they were proposed in 1997/8, John Prescott's"reforms" insisted on centralising power with a cabinet and/or executivemayor as "really good government", and voters were not permitted toretain the existing set up whereby decisions were taken by the full bodyof elected councillors.

* Now Councils will no longer have to hold referendums on electedmayors. Councils can just go ahead if they want a scheme. (BBC Online,25.6.02)

* The percentage of voters who do not want the Euro is easily in the'sixties', even 'seventies'. This has not stopped the Government wastingmillions on Euro preparations - cynically "to give voters a choice".Scrapping the Pound for the Euro not only transfers vital powers to runour currency to unelected and unaccountable European bankers. TheGovernment it quiet over the fact that would be legally irreversible -even if a country's voters find it doesn't work and change their minds.

* By ratifying the Treaty of Amsterdam, more powers have been passedfrom the elected Parliament to EU institutions. The Government wants totransfer even more powers via the Treaty of Nice, even though this hasbeen rejected by voters in the Irish Republic. Their wishes in thereferendum should have been respected, which would have meant droppingthe proposed Treaty across Europe.

* You can also add the reluctance to give the people a referendum on theEU Constitution....2003/4

Brian Mooney

A Collection of Recent Letters

Sunderland Echo
Friday, September 10, 2004

Assembly drain
I RECEIVED the Labour Party issue as to why we should vote yes to accept theirNorth East Assembly (Mini Parliament) and the glorious benefits which will bein store for us.

Their statement says if we accept the Assembly things would improved dramatically, ie improvements in health, hospitals, housing.
Also the assembly would have the power to protect our environment, it would also improve ourtowns, cities and countryside. There would be a better transport system andmore jobs.If you can believe this Labour Party manifesto it's going to be a Utopia fromMiddlesbrough to Cumbria.

Wait a minute!

Haven't we got about 40 MPs in Parliament representing the NorthEast?

And what about the local councillors who have (or should have been accountable for the last three decades) been in office for years?Have they been neglecting all of these important issues?

Many of us have known for years that most of our MPs and town councillors have been passengers on the monetary gravy train (with a few exceptions).

The manifesto also admits they will take away power from central Government and quangos which could mean local councillors.

Now the cost of this North East Assembly, based on this year's figures, will beabout £500million.

Of course, we the council tax payers will have to foot the bill as usual. To vote for a North East Assembly will be an unnecessary financial drain on publicfunds and again, I repeat, at our expense.
W. Smith,Farringdon.

No new powers
I WRITE out of utter amazement at the naivety of people who write expounding the virtues of the proposed Regional Assembly.They clearly have not studied what is on offer because their arguments are weakand often simply untrue.

The Assembly will have no new powers. Nor, indeed, will it have any power at all other than to talk about issues and suggest things. There is nothing it will do that is not already being done.

It will not give the North East a voice that it does not already have.

Rather,it will weaken the North East and its regions.

The North East has had the dubious benefit of having one of its MPs in the most powerful of government positions over the past seven years. Add to that the fact we have had more cabinet posts held by North East MPs in that time than atany other point in history and you wonder how much more influence can the NorthEast get?

For the North East Regional Assembly to have a greater voice, it would need to be more powerful and better able to respond than our own MPs. So they must either be admitting they have failed at their jobs, or they have no intention of weakening themselves and will give us less power than they themselves have.

The only long-term power the Regional Assembly has been guaranteed is that it will be self-funding.That means the power to levy a tax on the people of the North East, in addition to Council Tax and national taxes.

So we will pay more tax than any otherEnglishmen.It is important that the Assembly has some legitimacy and authority. It would be a disaster if it were decided either way on a pitiful turnout.

I suspect there is no threshold because interest is very low.

The Regional Assembly, if passed, will have 25 members to represent roughly100,000 people or more each. This actually makes them more remote and lessresponsive than our National MPs, who each represent roughly 68,000 people.

If the North East chooses to have this Regional Assembly it will not solve the problem of the North East being poorly represented because the Government has always stated that it plans to have assemblies for all the regions. We willhave the smallest Assembly, with perhaps the exception of Cornwall.The biggest flaw is that there are problems of governance in the North East andthe Assembly doesn't even come close to addressing them.

A prize for anyone whocan tell me what they are.
Coun Stephen Daughton,Barnes,Sunderland

Public need a referendum
FRED Brady insists(August 19)that we have no alternative but to vote yes for a regional assembly because there is nothing else on offer.

There are a few more choices that can be offered, and there is still plenty of time to do it.I would like to offer a suggestion for a referendum giving real choice to voters.

Any referendum concerning an English governmental system should present the English population with a full set of choices, in the following manner.
Choose one of the following (as in an election ballot paper that everyone understands):

Do you want:
An English parliament only?
English regional assemblies only?
An English parliament in addition to English regional assemblies?
None of the above?

This is an honest and unbiased approach covering all possible choices. Unbiased honesty is perceived, by much of the English electorate, to be alien to our politicians at Westminster and probably explains the low turnout for elections in England.

I suggest the Sunderland Echo conducts its own poll of its readership to ascertain local public opinion on this matter, using the four questions I have proposed.I can understand politicians from all parties would be wary of asking the public questions like these,but referenda is supposed to be about us and not about their future electoral chances.

Finally, The most honest statement made by any Westminster MP on the meaning of regional assemblies, came from the Lib/Dem leader Charles Kennedy at a Lib/Dem conference in Dunfermiline in 1999. He said: " Scotland has a Parliament. Wales an assembly, Northern Ireland, soon I hope, a working assembly too."In England regionalism is growing as never before, calling into question, as it happens, the idea of England itself".So there we have it, they don't like England.
Keith Young member Campaign English Parliament

Northern Echo
10/09/04
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT:
UNLIKE Gill Hale of Unison (Echo, Sept 6) I find the question of a regional assembly very complex. Although Ms Hale thinks there is an overwhelming case, I am not so sure.

In a leaflet circulated by the Government, it suggests reorganisation in Durham will save between £2.8 to £8.3m per year, although there will be an up frontcost of £37m.

To me, this sound like job losses - the last thing Unison shouldbe supporting.On the other hand, the fire service is to be taken away from local authorities and the four existing fire services are to be run by the regional assembly.

There will no doubt be a highly paid group of regional fire officers with a new regional headquarters.

How this will benefit the people of, say, Berwick in the north or Barnard Castle in the south?

John Prescott seems to be up here almost every week propagating the case for a regional assembly - if it is such a good idea why does he not foist it on the region he belongs to?
- Quintin Smith, South Shields.

HAVING read the leaflet from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, it seems the Government does not know what the regional assembly will be doing or what they will control.It states that the assembly will have "responsibilities, power or influence"over nine set areas.

What are "the powers or influences" that it will have and how will it be able to impose its authority over others?

As for the re-shaping of local government, it would be obvious to go for one authority that does the lot rather than three authorities all doing the same as it would save the taxpayers millions in the long run.

A lot of figures are being bandied about as to the probable costs involved. We need to see precise figures.

To vote on this with the little information so far released and the amount thatis being hidden, reminds me of the saying "buying a pig in a poke".
- RLGroves, Howden-le-Wear, Crook.

THE Government-funded elaborate pamphlet puts only one point of view:emphatically in favour of a regional assembly.

Unless equal funding is made available for different views, how can a referendum vote be deemed fair and informed?

It is hardly likely that many of the readers of the leaflet will take up the invitation to send £25 for a copy of the draft Bill covering the powers and functions of the regional assembly.Only the House of Commons has the power to legislate, although it has given upsome law-making powers to the EU and Scotland.

It is most unlikely that suchconcessions will be made to regional assemblies.An assembly will be constrained by the same obligations to stay within lawswhich apply to every unitary county, district or town council. In essence, itwill be an administration with only limited decision taking powers.And the price?

A hardly representative assembly of 15-25 people displacing hundreds of local councillors in close touch with many and varied localcommunities.
- EG Hill, Darlington.

Prescott's Propaganda Challenged

First of many...
Complaint to the Audit Commission
7th September 2004

Dear Sir,

Referendum on a Regional Assembly in the North East

There is to be a referendum in the North East of England on November 4th, asking the electorate whether or not it wishes to have an elected regional assembly in the area.

It is Labour Party policy to have such assemblies; until recently, it was intended that there would be referenda in Yorkshire & Humberside and the North West too, but these have been postponed.

Since at least July, the Government, and in particular the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), has issued numerous advertisements promoting the Referendum. These adverts have appeared regularly, for example, in all the regional daily papers, namely the "Journal" the "Northern Echo" and the "Evening Chronicle", as well as in all the more local weekly papers, such as the "North Tyneside Herald". A copy is enclosed.

Similar adverts are on public transport, hoardings and posters at key points, for example, beside the Tyne Tunnel toll booths.

At the same time, the ODPM has also sent leaflets about the Referendum entitled "Have your Say" to every house within the North East. A copy is enclosed of this document too.

Both these forms of advertising are misleading and are promoting a particular political view but using public money to do so. I believe that this is a clear misuse of taxpayers’ money.

The newspaper advertisement, for example, states " The job of an assembly would be to make the region a better place to live and work. It could have powers for jobs, businesses and skills; housing; planning; transport;….."

The key word is "could" – in fact, the Assembly as proposed does not actually have this power.

If it were the Government’s intention to give such powers, it would be done now, and included in the draft Bill.

The Government’s lengthy Policy Statement clearly states "Central Government would retain powers to ensure that elected assemblies……continue to address national priorities" – but no reference to this document is made in the adverts.

The same Policy Statement makes it clear that there will be "key targets which they [the assemblies] will be expected to agree with central government". The electorate are not told that in the adverts – the plain implication is that the assembly would be in complete control – this is untrue.

Likewise, there is no reference to the clauses in the draft Regional Assemblies Bill which give the Secretary of State powers over an assembly, nor to those clauses which restrict the assembly’s power.

With regard to the leaflet, this too is misleading. I have no objection to the public being alerted to the fact that a vote will take place on 4th November, but the leaflet goes far beyond this, and is plainly advocating a "Yes" vote.

In particular, I draw your attention to the photos used in the leaflet.

The first, for example, shows a smiling young woman, with a soft-focus background, giving the ‘thumbs up’ sign to the referendum question. On the following page, by contrast, there is a picture of member of the ethnic community, unsmiling, in a drab location, giving the ‘thumbs down’. Likewise, further on, there is a picture of a white young man, in a smart suit, smiling, beside a modern shop front, giving the ‘thumbs up’, whilst the adjacent photo shows an elderly person, wrapped up against the cold, with a walking stick, with a background which appears much less affluent, giving the ‘thumbs down’ sign.

The intended message is plain: the young, modern, up-to-date, white (majority) voters are in favour of an elected assembly, whilst those who are old, or from the minority communities, are opposed.

The text of the leaflet is, similarly, misleading and inaccurate.

It states, for example, "The assembly would have planning powers, taking over responsibility for a region-wide development strategy … these decisions are currently taken by Government Ministers in London.." . There is no mention of the fact that the Bill requires an assembly to have regard to national policies, and that the Secretary of State can force the assembly to revise its plans.

There is a clear imbalance in this publicity.

The statements in the leaflet on the assembly’s budget give only a part of the picture. "It would directly control spending of around £500 million.." says the leaflet – but fails to point out that this in less than 4% of current government expenditure in the region, and is therefore of little significance.

The public is not told that the Secretary of State can make the payment of the general grant to any assembly "subject to such conditions as he thinks fit" [Draft Regional Assemblies Bill].

On the matter of the running costs of the assembly, the leaflet states "the cost in the first year..is estimated to be around 5p a week for Band D properties..". The public is not told that after the first year the costs could soar – according to the ODPM Policy Statement "an assembly would be able to set a higher charge to fund additional spending….".

The voters are being told only part of the truth.

There has been a clear misuse of public money, which is, I believe, unlawful.

The Electoral Commission has, as one of its aims, "openness and transparency in the financial affairs of political parties and others involved in elections…".

I have asked the Commission to investigate this misuse of public money, but was told that it has no power to investigate the ODPM, and that I should instead approach the National Audit Office. (The Electoral Commission informed me that it was not shown the Government’s leaflet prior to its distribution).

Accordingly, I shall be obliged if you will investigate this abuse.

I should like to know

• What can be done to prevent further abuse?
  
• What steps can be taken to correct the misinformation?
  
• How much in total has the ODPM spent on this advertising campaign?

In view of the fact that referendum will take place shortly (it is to be an all-postal ballot and the voting packs will be sent to voters on 18th October), I should be obliged if you will investigate this complaint at an early date: the information should be available to the public prior to the vote.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs J. A. Wallace Chairman, North East No Campaign


Newcastle Office

National Audit Office

3rd FloorHigham House

New Bridge Street West

Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

NE1 8AU

Whoops they did it again! BBC use Labour Politician as 'Independent' Expert

Radio 4 Today Programme
10th September 2004

In a broadcast today at 8.10am the subject was 'Regional Assemblies' and Prescott was even more aggressive and bombastic than normal...the sign of a desperate man.

All alone spouting half-truths and downright deception about what is on offer with regional government.

A man all alone.

A man, who had hoped for triplets, three 'brainchildren,' is now left desperately clinging to his only surviving 'brainchild.' The North East, he believes, are foolish enough to be duped.However, his 'baby' looks like it is not destined to leave the pram. A man whose 'brainchild' is avoided by the rest of the Labour Party as though it not only has political mumps, which would make them politically sterile, but also every other highly contagious disease going.

Seems like there is no medicine that will cure this brainchild's affliction, and there is certainly no vaccination or medicine being offered from the Cabinet.

The desperation to deceive the public was exaggerated by bringing on Dr. Simon Henig, Senior Lecturer in Politics at Sunderland University. He made reference to recent 'polls' saying 40% were in favour of an elected assembly.
What he didn't point out that the latest poll showing this was conducted by the Yes Campaign. Previously, the poll that had been conducted by the Journal with a biased lead in to the question (because only 3 in 10 knew there was a referendum taking place).

After a call from the North East No Campaign, while Prescott was in mid-rant, John Humphreys was forced to point out that Dr. Simon Henig was also Deputy Labour Leader for Chester-Le-Street Council !

This is the second time BBC ! Radio Newcastle fell into the same trap.

It is about time that the BBC actually did an in-depth appraisal for their listeners and viewers as to what is being offered by Prescott, before we end up with the biggest political con trick duping an unsuspecting North East public.

To hear the broadcast click here.

Prescott running scared

Apathy jibe as briefing called off
Sep 7 2004
By Zoe Hughes, The Journal

Local government chiefs in the North-East are apathetic about plans for a regional assembly after failing to sign up to a high-powered conference starring John Prescott, `No' campaigners claimed last night.

Anti-assembly campaigner Neil Herron warned the last-minute cancellation of a London-based "briefing" was indicative of the lack of interest felt by most people in the region - and showed his campaign now had opponents "on the run".

However, he was immediately attacked by `Yes' campaigners, who said the public were becoming more interested by the day, with a recent poll showing supporters outnumbered those in doubt by two to one. Both sides were speaking out as conference organisers Capita LD announced they were pulling the plug on plans for a special regional assembly debate in London on September 23, because they had "failed to secure the number of delegates" needed.
It had been billed as a "must" for those in local government, featuring the Deputy Prime Minister, officials from the elections watchdog, the Electoral Commission, campaigners and North-East businesses.

"This briefing has been specifically designed, and is a must, for all those involved in local government, in such areas as governance, planning, policy, strategy and elections," said the marketing brochure.

"Its ideal timing in September ensures that our briefing will be an opportunity to discuss the outcome of the Electoral Commission's report on postal voting and, at the same time, be a timely point to consider the referendum still going ahead on November 4."

Despite months of marketing, though, too few people have signed up for the £299-a-head "high-level" briefing, with a spokeswoman blaming the summer holidays. "We haven't managed to fill enough places to ensure this goes ahead. It seems like this could be because of the August holidays. Everyone has been on holiday and they haven't managed to do anything about it," she said.

Mr Herron, campaign director for the North-East No Campaign, criticised the cancellation saying: "If they cannot get local government officials to turn up to a conference like this, then it sends out a clear message to the public. Mr Prescott is running scared because he knows people are turning against his plans."

But Professor John Tomaney, chairman for the `Yes' campaign, said: "There is no evidence in all the recent polls that people are apathetic. Indeed, people want to know more about regional assemblies. Capita would have been better off hosting this meeting in the North-East, rather than in London. This is why we need devolution so mistakes like this don't happen again."

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said: "This issue is very important and that's why we are seeking to engage and encourage people to join in with the debate to have their say."

The truth behind the spin is to follow.

Well Done John Taylor, Leader of Alnwick Council

Christopher Booker's Notebook(Filed: 05/09/2004)
Sunday Telegraph

The battle for the government of England

Only now is the realisation dawning that John Prescott's forthcoming referendum on an elected regional assembly for the North-East could presage a mighty earthquake in England's local government.

If the North-East's voters approve his plans on November 4, they will also in effect be voting to abolish 13 district councils and the county councils for Durham and Northumberland, employing 40,000 people.

At a cost which could total hundreds of millions of pounds (Mr Prescott's Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has produced no figures), these local councils would be replaced by just two or three huge and remote "unitary authorities".

Mr Prescott's plan, completing a process that has progressed piecemeal over the past 30 years, is that this should be the prototype for the greatest-ever revolution in England's local government.Hundreds of district and county councils would disappear, to be replaced by a two-tier system of nine regional governments with, below them, a few dozen "unitaries", administering areas much larger than those now run by district councils.

So stealthily has Mr Prescott's blueprint been taking shape that the first time most of the North-East's 1.9 million voters were aware of it was when they saw the leaflet sent to every household about the referendum.

This includes maps showing the 15 councils that will go if voters say Yes to an elected regional assembly.

The first local authority to blow the whistle on these plans was Alnwick district council. Earlier this year, on the initiative of itsleader, John Taylor, the council chose Mr Prescott's scheme as the theme of its annual "state of the district" debate.Alan Beith, the local Lib Dem MP, and John McCormack, a North-East Labour luminary, argued the case for a Yes vote, opposed by two members of the "North-East No" campaign, Archie Turnbull, a custodian for English Heritage, and Ian Riddell, who runs a local engineering company.Speakers for both sides deplored the fact that Mr Prescott had linked an elected assembly with the reorganisation of local government, which they argued should have been kept as separate issues.

The linkage was made, it is believed, on the personal insistence of Tony Blair, himself a North-East MP.

Following a victory in the debate by 71 to 25 for the No camp, Alnwick council became the first in the North-East formally to register its opposition to an elected assembly.Councillor Taylor, an independent, says: "It is vital that, in the short time remaining, people realise what an immense constitutional change is being proposed. We are being asked to vote not just on an elected assembly, but on a completely new system of local government.The provision of services will be taken away from genuinely local councils, and given to a remote authority which cannot be properly accountable to local people."

In Newcastle last week Mr Prescott's deputy, Nick Raynsford, attended the highest-profile public debate so far in the referendum campaign.In front of more than 200 people, the debate was led for the Yes camp by Professor John Tomaney, an expert on EU regional government, and for the No side by Neil Herron, the former Sunderland market trader, now director of the North-East No campaign.

Although no vote was taken, after the discussion, in which members of the public, councillors and leaders of local organisations also spoke, Mr Raynsford could have been left in no doubt that persuading voters to back Mr Prescott's plans will be a uphill struggle.

Meanwhile, Mr Prescott's plans were in deeper trouble in Yorkshire and Humberside, when East Yorkshire council last week became the first to pull out of one of his unelected regional assemblies, saying that it was not "giving value for money".

Other councils seem set to follow

What was \the question?

Electors unsure as 'safe bet' north-east assembly vote draws near
Peter Hetherington, regional affairs editorFriday September 3, 2004
Campaigning for England's first regional devolution referendum began yesterdaywith a glitzy launch in Durham city and an opinion poll showing relatively strong support for an elected assembly in the north-east.

But rolling out a string of supporting personalities, from the former Olympicathlete and commentator Brendan Foster, to the president of Newcastle United,Sir John Hall, the group Yes 4 the North East acknowledged that many electors were unsure of their views two months before the all-postal ballot.

Yesterday's ICM poll for the group, among 1,000 electors in the north-east,found that while 48% would back an assembly - one broadly similar to the GreaterLondon Authority - 27% were against it. But the 25% undecided will determine theoutcome of the November 4 referendum.

Guests packed into Durham's town hall, which could provide the home for a25-member assembly, to the sound of the Manchester band M People reinforcing theslogan "Vote for the North East - be proud, be positive".

Mr Foster told the audience that the north-east needed a strong voice to counterthe centralist tendencies of the government and the growing strength of Londonand the south-east. "There is no strategy for the region," he said. "I am surethe north-east wants to control its own destiny.
This is make or break, a oncein a lifetime opportunity."

In July, the deputy prime minister, John Prescott, who has campaigned forEngland's devolution, postponed the plans for referendums in the north-west andYorkshire. This came after pressure from Downing Street following a rebellion bybackbench Labour MPs who claimed referendums would be a damaging distraction forthe government seven months before a likely general election.

But thenorth-east, less marginal than the other regions, was considered to be a saferbet.Today marks the deadline for organisations, such as Yes 4 the North East, toapply to the Electoral Commission for designation as official campaign groups,each eligible for £100,000 of public funds. While only one yes campaign has emerged, the commission needs to decide between two no campaigns.

One is led bythe Sunderland "metric martyr" Neil Herron, and the other is funded largely by the old north-east establishment and veteran businessmen, including the former transport magnate Sir Tom Cowie.

The commission will make a final decision around September 14 when groups willbe reminded that spending will be capped at £665,000 - if they can raise thatmuch cash - including the £100,000 public grant.

In addition, political parties will face spending caps based on their share ofthe vote in the last local elections in the north-east. Labour and the LiberalDemocrats, which will both campaign for a yes vote, will be allowed to spend nomore than £665,000 and £400,000 respectively, while the Tories and the UK Independence party, in the no camp, will be capped at £400,000 each.

To further complicate the process, individuals too can register with thecommission and will be able to spend up to £100,000 each. This has raised fearsamong commission officials that wealthy individuals will be able to exploit theprocess by spreading money around sympathisers while remaining anonymous.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

Bottled Fog Sellers Lose out to Free Bread

The Yes Campaign have another launch...selling dreams, magic fairies and bottled fog. It seems like no-one asked the question, "what was the question you asked everyone?"
The No Campaign considered asking, "Do you want an elected Assembly full of overpaid politicians working a three day week, sitting in a big fancy building putting up Council Tax?"...but we thought better of it and kept the £5k for the campaign knowing that the result would be close ;-)

Northern Echo
2nd September 2004
Regional assembly's Yes campaign underway
The phoney war over the proposed regional assembly came to an abrupt end yesterday with the official launch of the Yes 4 The North East campaign. Tony Kearney watched the opening round of what promises to be a keenly-fought tussle.

The campaign for the regional assembly got underway yesterday with a slick launch emphasising North-East pride - but it appears the campaign managers still have some way to go if they are to overcome the prejudices of ordinary voters.

The Yes 4 The North East campaign fired the opening salvo in the battle to win November's referendum with a celebrity launch in front of supporters from the world of politics, sport and business.

In a curious mixture of ancient and modern, the rafters and the stained glass of Durham's Town Hall - home to the great and the good of North-East politics for centuries - echoed to a booming soundtrack by M People over stirring video images of the North-East and the repeated slogan Be Proud, Be Positive.

Before the launch, celebrity supporters including Sir John Hall, Brendan Foster and opera star Suzannah Clarke took to the Market Place in Durham City to put the case to ordinary voters.
If the campaign managers hoped that associating the region's success stories to their cause to win over wavering voters, it was a strategy that appeared to be working.

Watching, as the North-East's most famous entrepreneur pressed the flesh, was Anne Jones of Ferryhill. "I have a great respect for Sir John Hall and if he's in favour of it, then I'm in favour of it," she said.

Sir John, who has declared he will stand as an Independent candidate for the assembly if it wins support at the referendum, said he had argued the case for a greater say for the region for 20 years.

"This is a one-off opportunity for the people of the North-East and I firmly believe that it is vital for the future of the region that we grasp it with both hands.

"It is about having a say in your own affairs. I am standing as a candidate and I wouldn't join something which was a talking shop. I don't think everything about the proposed assembly is perfect, it is a challenge, but I am prepared to make a go of it."

The launch comes on the back of a poll conducted by ICM on behalf of the Yes campaign, which showed 48 per cent of voters in favour, 27 per cent against and 25 per cent undecided. The poll also discovered support for the assembly was strongest in County Durham and strongest among the under 30s.

Campaign chairman Professor John Tomaney added: "We are really encouraged by the results of the poll and the launch today. It is an indication of where we are but it is also an indication we have a lot more to do to persuade people."

Inside the hall, the persuading was underway. Olympic hero Brendan Foster argued the assembly would give the region an equal seat at the table with the likes of London, Wales and Scotland and Suzannah Clarke argued the chance to have an assembly may never come again.
But even as the supporters filed out of the oak-panelled hall, lined with memorials to the great and good of the past, there were the first signs that there is still much to be done to enthuse an electorate suspicious that the assembly will be made up of the current crop of the great and the good.

Outside in the Market Place, the real focus of attention seemed to be team of promotions girls from a national bread manufacturer who were handing out free loaves to passers by. The fear among the voters enjoying the summer sun seemed to be that, when it comes to real power, Westminster is only handing out crumbs.

"From what I understand, all the major things are still going to be run by the Government from London," said 66-year-old William May, of Newton Hall.

"I'm not in favour of it - I think it will separate the North-East from the rest of the country," added 19-year-old Sarah Nichols of Durham City.

There only encouraging sign for the Yes campaign came from 71-year-old Jean Ormiston of Carrville, who said: "I have never even heard of it, but it sounds on the face of it like quite a good thing."

Tidal Wave of opposition

Northern Echo Letters
01/09/04

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
I TOO noticed the slanted use of images in the Government booklet on the Regional Assembly Referendum (Echo, Aug 28), and I share the view that this crude manipulation calls into question the fairness of the vote.

But there is another cause for concern. In the referendum we will also be asked to vote for the form of local government to sit below the regional assembly, if that is approved.

For County Durham, the options are the existing county council or area councils formed by amalgamating groups of local councils. For the last year the county council has been busily spending our money issuing press releases and glossy magazines, magnifying every petty achievement, and generally telling us what a wonderful job it is doing.

The unfairness of this is that the proposed alternative to the county council will be several separate area councils that do not yet exist, so there is no strong voice to counter the propaganda offensive of the county council.

In a general election there are strict rules about publicity expenditure but apparently anything goes in the referendum. This is yet another reason for scrapping the whole thing now. The ballot papers have not gone out yet and, despite what the Electoral Commission says, it is not too late to call a halt.
Ian Forsyth, Durham.

POSTAL VOTING
THE Electoral Commission has now stated that all-postal voting should not be used in UK elections after reviewing the local and European polls of June 2004.

It says that it is too early to tell if there was more fraud but that the trial of 14 million voters was hampered by delays in the delivery of voting papers.

Prior to the elections, the Government was warned that the voting system should not be tinkered with to try and gain voter advantage. It was warned not to try so big a pilot.

People do need a choice in how they vote, including the right to ballot in privacy at a polling station. When in Northallerton in June, I met people who said they did not like the new system and that they would not vote again if they could not go to a polling station.

The Government needs to take notice of the commission on this important issue and work with other parties to prevent abuse which can occur with postal voting in general.
Jacqueline Bell, PPC Liberal Democrats, Richmond.

SO the Electoral Commission has decided that the postal vote is unsatisfactory, thus confirming what many of us already feared.

Indeed, this was surely the reason given by the Government for not going ahead with the two other regions planned. How, then, can it be right to press on regardless with the referendum in the North-East?

This an extremely important decision we are being asked to take; if it is allowed to go ahead there will be a large proportion of voters who will feel their view has not been properly represented, especially if the vote is a close one.

There is no reason I can see why it has to go ahead. It is immaterial that all the arrangements have been made, and that costs will be incurred. The referendum is too important for that to matter. What we must have is a vote that we will all have confidence in.
David M Bishop, Guisborough.

I AM appalled that a liberal newspaper, such as I believe The Northern Echo to be, should support postal voting.

The whole idea of the secret ballot is to prevent intimidation and fraud, and this is being done away with at a stroke.

If able bodied people can't be bothered to walk to a polling station, they don't deserve to have a vote.

It seems to me that the present Government is prepared to do all in its power to stay in office by introducing postal voting and puppet regional assemblies.
Peter W Elliott, Eaglescliffe.

NICK Raynsford, the Local Government Minister, is determined, once more, to ensure that the North-East gets only second best.

The Electoral Commission has been investigating the use of all-postal ballots in elections and has found widespread problems and dangers of fraud. The commission has concluded that all-postal voting should no longer be pursued for use at UK elections. However, despite all the evidence gathered by the commission, Mr Raynsford has stated that an all-postal ballot will still be used for the referendum on a North-East Assembly this autumn. Interviewed on local TV, he said that the important thing to remember was that postal voting had increased turn-out. Is Mr Raynsford only concerned with the numbers game? Has he no interest in probity, honesty and integrity?

The Government is already trying to fob the North-East off with bureaucratic proposals for an assembly which will do nothing to remove the under-funding from which we have suffered for decades. It is clear now that they wish to fob us off with a discredited and unreliable voting system too.

A system in which the electorate has no confidence must be abandoned. We must revert to our traditional tried and tested voting methods for the assembly referendum.
Judith Wallace, Chairman, North-East No Campaign.

Simply ask the question..."Why does there need to be two No campaigns?"

Newcastle Journal 1st September
Party Lines
by Ross Smith

"anti-regional assembly campaigner Neil Herron squared off against Regions Minister Nick Raynsford in Newcastle yesterday, but it was a distraction from the real battle he's fighting at the moment.

The spirit of co-operation has well and truly ended between his North East Against Regional Assemblies organisation and North East bSays No, run by John Elliott - who may or may not have been NEARA's Chairman earlier this year.

Both are battling it out to become the designated "No" campaign, and be awarded thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money to spend on propaganda.

At first, they pledged to work together to fight for a "No" vote in November's referendum.
But the race to lead the campaign is becoming increasingly bitter.Mr. Herron fears an establishment plot to keep him out of it. The anti-devolution Tory Party certainly believes Mr. Herron can only reach a limited number of voters and are relieved to see Mr. Elliott's group in the running.

Meanwhile, the "Yes" side is hardly presenting a united front either. The North East foot soldiers of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties will be at each others throats in the next few weeks as they figt for the Hartlepool by-election.

They are then expected to shake hands and join forces before ballot papers on the referendum go out a few days later. Not likely. One Labour figure due to play a significant role in the campaign grumbled this week: "I am not convinced the Lib Dems are going to make much of an effort anyway."

Spotlight getting brighter on this outrageous fraud about to be perpetrated on the North East

Following letters in the Times today:
September 01, 2004

Discontent over poll in North East
From Mr Phillip Evans

Sir,

I believe that the Government is manipulating our electoral practice inorder to promote a contentious and divisive policy — the partition ofEngland into Euro-regions and its effective termination as a political unit.We were to have had ballots in all of England’s so-called regions, butindifference forced a retreat into Labour’s supposed heartlands in theNorth. Subsequent research revealed that Prescott’s follies would bedecisively rejected on either side of the Pennines, so now the last ditch isbeing dug in the North East.Latterly, the Electoral Commission’s damning report on recent experimentswith postal ballots (report, August 27) has surely killed this brainlessidea stone dead, yet bizarrely the same body is backing this very method forthe North East assembly referendum (report, August 28).We are left with a single vote in the region selected by the Government asthe most likely to produce the desired result, employing a discreditedpolling method for the same reason. This seems to me to be Blairism reducedto its bankrupt essence: cynical and corrupt.
Yours sincerely,
PHILLIP EVANS,16 Corunna Close,Norton,
Worcestershire WR5 2PW.pevans666@aol.com
August 29.

From Mr Tony Richmond
Sir,
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has sent me a brochure toencourage me to have my say in the forthcoming referendum on a regionalassembly. It features pictures showing people with their thumbs either up ordown.Perhaps it is a coincidence that the people with their thumbs up look youngand vigorous, are smiling and are obviously going places, while those withtheir thumbs down are shown in downbeat surroundings, look older and appearthoroughly miserable.More objective information is given in a note on the material of thebooklet, which I am happy to see is 75 per cent post-consumer waste and 25per cent pulp.
Yours faithfully,
TONY RICHMOND,
Mountjoy Farmhouse,Durham City DH1 3SD.ar2411@yahoo.co.uk
August 31.