Regionalism rejected
From Brian Thornton Sir: Matthew Parris was not aware of the result of the vote in the North-East when he wrote his piece (tong live a stubbornly centralised England', 6 November). We now know that, by an overwhelming majority, the voters have given John Prescott's idea of regional assemblies the order of the boot. But be on your guard; these monstrosities already exist. In my area there is an unelected SouthWest Regional Assembly made up of officials, councillors, 'community stakeholders' and numerous committees. It covers Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset. How anyone can conceive that this quango can do anything for the area that is not already covered by the existing local authorities, I fail to understand. Paying for all the supporting bureaucrats and the extraordinary expenses of the unelected members must be wasting untold amounts in extra taxation. Surely, after the vote in the North-East, the whole lot should be scrapped and Prescott put out to grass.
Brian Thornton
Lydney, Gloucestershire
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