So we're all bored to tears at the launch of the "regional government for the North East" show last night then?

Guess so.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Answers

Arrrgh Politics

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Yet another layer of incompetent, expensive bureaucracy is precisely what we need right now!

I didn't see the programme Bill, but the very concept makes my blood boil. I believe this is entirely a diversionary tactic from a Government that imo is full of good and honourable intentions, but one that hasn't the first clue how to go about actually 'delivering', anything. Another sham - don't buy it.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Sounds like a fashionable attempt to create interest in local politics. But I suspect it would cost a hell of a lot to set up (some points I've heard of included abolishing county councils) and may remove a tier of local accountability.

The breadth of the region reminds me more of a rejigged Northumbria than a NE regional assembly. Perhaps a return for the Prince Bishops?

I'm also unimpressed that the centre for a proposed assembly would be in Durham. What a kop-out to the mag/makem rivalry! It's quite obvious that the only city in the NE with the prestige, profile and capacity to carry this duty is Newcastle. Maybe I'm biased :-)

I suspect there would be an increase in local taxation too as the regional assembly would undoubtedly concentrate on the huge amounts of poverty and deprivation in the NE (ironically centred around Durham!).

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Hmm, the BBC poll reckons that 70% of the population are in favour, but I guess that there will be many who share your views, Clarky.

It wasn't a programme as such, but the launch of a White Paper called "Your Region Your Choice". The Prescott and Byers roadshow was in toon to try to raise its profile, but to be honest there was a touch of desperation about it to my eyes. Best moment was when somebody referred to the mayoral elections, to which Prescott replied that he was well aware of the Hartlepool monkey, which he "took to mean the one that dressed up in the suit" - so still no love lost between him and Mandelson then.

There is supposed to be an official answer to the "another layer of expensive and incompetent bureaucrats" argument (lol btw as I am one!). If a region is deemed to be "interested" (Byers's decision) a review of local government is immediately triggered with removal of either the district or county council layer should the referendum return a yes.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

The Durham base is just speculation, but there is a lot of suspicion about what some would regard as centralisation to Newcastle. Prescott's first words were that he was aware of the sensitivity of a document with a red and white cover in a region where there was also a black and white interest. Didn't get much of a laugh, as you'd imagine.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Sorry to disagree, but I think it could be a good move, if the right people are involved. The key is : we need to get at least one of us elected onto the regional assembly and then we can get it going in the right direction!! I actually think it could be a "Good Thing". I've met a few of the people involved in it, and they have their hearts in the right place. On Look North last night and on the radio this morning, I have seen & heard that some of the biggest criticisms are
that it is going to add "another level of bureaucracy"
that it will be "just another talking shop"

Advocates point out that it should actually replace and reduce the current multi-layers of government. The people of the North East will have to see this doesn't happen and make sure it works in the right way. It will have some decision making rights over local economy, investment, culture, but no tax raising powers or the ability to do things like abolish student fees or ban fox hunting like the Scots have done. There will be a referendum in 2004 and if approved then there would be direct elections in 2005. By the way on the Look North programme they had Tony Flynn interviewed on the Transporter Bridge - echoes of last week's Auf Wiedersehen when they (Look North) also were supposed to be interviewing the local MP and "Tony" called off at the last minute, and "they hadn't heard anything to indicate that Ant and Dec were not on-board"

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Will this mean that Newcastle will officially rule Sunderland? The more things change the more they stay the same.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Dr. Bill - where can I get a copy of this White Paper? Is it accessible on-line?

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Clarky:

http://www.regions.dtlr.gov.uk/governance/whitepaper/index.htm

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

Thanks benton.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002

You beat me to it Benton, thanks also.

When I tried to print off the summary last night the fancy logo made our feeble printer have a memory overrun, amongst other things causing the first page to be headed "Your Region Our Choice" which seemed somehow appropriate.

Paras 4.45 to 4.48, hmmm.

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2002