The attacks start on the unelected Assemblies...follow the lead

Sir,

That the people of the North East of England have decisively, by a margin of 3 to 1, voted against having an elected Regional Assembly means, surely, that their existing appointed (and unelected) Assembly lacks the legitimacy sought by the politicians, in particular John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister.

That being the case, then, their would seem to be no other option than for the, District and County Councils supporting that Assembly, using public funds, to cease their annual subscriptions and withdraw their membership.This also throws open the question of support by other Councils throughout England, (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London have voted for elected assemblies), and we should be concerned, in particular, about our own appointed South East England Regional Assembly at Guildford which is supported by West Oxfordshire District Council.

It would seem that unless these Councils can quickly receive public support through the ballot box then their continuation will be seen to be an outrageous flouting of the democratic process.In addition there seems to be a stark contradiction between the Conservative Party's support of the North East Says NO Campaign against an elected regional assembly in the North East, and the support given, by attendance at meetings and the voting of finance, by Conservative Councils across the land.

Perhaps the quickest way for them to escape ridicule is for them to follow the example of East Yorkshire Council who quit their Assembly in August deciding that the £87,500 of council taxpayers' money that it paid annually to the organisation, which has a £3.7m budget, was frittered away on staff and administration.With, we are told, another hike in Council taxes expected next year, surely this is a good opportunity for them to do us a favour and cut that item from the budget.

David Barnby
Address Witheld
Witney