Now Sunderland encouraged to say No

Sunderland Echo
19th October
Leader Column
Read online here

Influence, but no real power
OVER the next fortnight North East voters have the chance to have their say over a regional assembly.
Many readers will already have made up their minds, others will still be undecided. To help the latter, tonight we publish a four-page guide to the issues involved.
We urge readers to use their vote, whichever side they choose.
Initially, we found a proposed regional assembly appealing.

Despite having so many North East MPs in the higher echelons of Government, it seemed our regional voice was not being heard.

An assembly then would be our champion to fight our corner for jobs, investment and a brighter future.

However, we shared the disappointment of so many when the proposed assembly’s lack of real teeth was finally revealed.

The assembly will operate within existing budgets and will have influence, but no real power, over vital issues like transport, training and skills, health and the environment.

The Yes campaign argues that devolution is a process and not an event. Supporters claim greater powers could grow in time.
They may well be right, and it may be that the assembly could grow into the regional powerbase we envisaged.
But we aren’t being asked to vote on what might be. And we remain unconvinced that the assembly will be any better than what we have now.