LIB DEMS SUPPORT REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES - Letter (05/01/05)

It is Lib Dem policy to support the unelected and expensive Regional Assemblies.

The Conservative Party, on the other hand have made it clear that they will abolish all Regional Chambers and many of the other unelected quangos, when they form the next government.

I attend the Assembly and can see that, despite the overwhelming rejection by the public of these organisations in the recent North-East referendum, that they are being given more and more powers by the Labour Government in an attempt to bypass the legitimate, elected Local Authorities. The cost of running the Assembly rises each year and of course the money comes from the taxpayer, who I am sure would prefer his/her hard-earned cash to be spent on rather more useful activities than talking shops.

There is a difficulty of course. If an organisation exists and it has powers to decide strategic development plans, wouldn't it be foolish of local elected Conservative politicians to ignore it just because they disagree with it? Remember, it was the Liberal Democrats who set up the South West Regional Assembly in the first place!

John Smeaton

Conservative County Cllr, County Hall, Taunton