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Although I do not live in the North East I have been supporting their ‘NO’ campaign on this blog and by and writing letters to their local papers.

The only problem is that there is in the North East and in the rest of the England already regional assemblies.

So the real question that should be asked is not do you want an assembly but do you want the present assembly to be an elected one. Do you want democracy or not, of course the answer is yes we do want democracy, but the democratic right to decide ourselves if we want the break up of England into regions, with eventually regional parliaments reporting directly to Brussels.

We are not being given that choice, these assemblies are already in place, and are already being funded by government and local councils to take over the running of the regions, they exist at present as unelected and unaccountable Quango`s, but we did not ask for them in the first place.

As the North East is going to be counting the votes for an elected assembly on Thursday, my hopes are that the people will reject the government’s plans, but even if they do, this will still leave the assembly in place.

To be safe from further interference with our Constitution on regional matters we need to somehow get rid of these quango`s then there will be nothing left on which the government can build their regional plans.

So what can we do to ensure that England remains one country with one government in England other than supporting the calls for an English Parliament, which I was originally against but am being persuaded towards by the arguments.

Here are a few suggestions sent by various thinking people;

Peter W Watson
The ODPM is already talking about a “Section 3 Agenda” (”Section 3″
of the White Paper, “Your Region, Your Choice”, that is) whereby
regionalisation will proceed WITHOUT elected regional assemblies.
Watch out for a plethora of initiatives from your “regional” Government
Office - setting up even more “stakeholder forums”, sub-regional
partnerships etc - and further limitations, by the ODPM, on the
core-powers of local government! Beware, however, that the removal of
core-powers from local government may also be cloaked by the
conferment of peripheral ones, such as powers to forbid the handing out
of leaflets (e.g. Gloucester) or the display of unauthorised posters (e.g.
North Somerset)!

Where referundums are concerned, we obviously cannot afford to lose
them. Equally, however, we cannot afford to win them and do nothing
else. Every regime-initiative to by-pass the referendum (be it on the
EU-constitution, or on an elected regional assembly) must be used as
an opportunity to expose the creeping takeover-process. So what can
we do? Well, representatives can be inserted into “stakeholder
forums”, regionalist briefings can be picketed and the presentations of
“strategic partnerships” can be disrupted by intelligent criticism (hearts
and minds must be won!) Inside-information can then be passed to the
media, who may have to take some notice of it. This is easier to do
locally than nationally, and it all adds up.
….
PW
Then we have to stop the funding -

we protest at local level and shut all money and communications and jobs
paid for by council tax payers and close relations with county councils
to Regions - withdraw salaried staff employed by and sent by County
Councils as the Regions are not wanted nor are they accountable

THEN

we file suit that the Regions are either
funded by the EU (foreign interference in our domestic affairs - and let
us see the Commons try and wriggle out of THAT!)

or central government funding of a non elected and NOT WANTED QUANGO

the people waged at the Regional Level are simply parasites and bought
supporters of the government.

Regions have to be removed. I believe we can do it as the population as
a whole now feels it is us and “them” where “they” are the government.

It is all coming along nicely.
……
Jane Bikby

However a couple of the councils for the Yorkshire and Humberside RA are
withdrawing funding. This was Prescott’s flagship, given more money than
the rest and extra power. Is this the start of a revolt?
We must put pressure on Councils, shaming them in letters to the press,
to try and make them think again. Council Tax is higher because of their
contributions, and the taxpayer isn’t told this money is being paid when
they get their bill.
If you know different please let me know.

Neil Herron has done a magnificent job with opposing the NE Assembly,
exposing malpractice etc. and hopefully a NO vote will make them take
stock.

Of course the RA’s are one of the three pillars of regional government. The
other two being Regional Development Agency, and the Regional
Government Office + DTI.
Don’t the EU like the number 3?
As do those behind the EU e.g. Trilateral Commission for one.

Those of us in Lincs have been campaigning against the RA’s for some
time now, and monitoring what they are doing. Josephine being one of the
main hard workers in this.
They love to get publicised via their Development agencies, just as the EU
circle of stars is emblazoned on most things. Creeping awareness and
acceptance strategy.
Yorkshire Forward are a prime example of this.

I agree with Steve that we must try to get a foothold in the things he
mentions, not only to monitor, but to try and change them. Just as the
Europhiles have done in Westminster.