MARTIN CALLANAN

Having been born and bred in the North East I know only too well the deep sense of pride that is associated with our region and of the collective spirit belonging to the people of the North East. I know that those living in Hartlepool are just as proud of their town. However a new popular myth is emerging and is being promoted by those in favour of an assembly for the North East. They say that if you are proud of living in the North East and want the best for our region then you should automatically want a regional assembly. This, of course, is nonsense. Yes, we can have pride in our history and identity. Yes, we should look to elect politicians who can make a real difference to our region. Yes, we should look to promote economic and social regeneration, but it is clear from the government's plans that a regional assembly would make none of these things more likely to happen - if anything the reverse.

I am against the proposal for a regional assembly because I believe it is not in the best interests of people right across our region. John Prescott wants a 25-member assembly for the North East that will inevitably be dominated by Tyneside politicians who will not know what is in the best interests of those living and working in Hartlepool. If there is a 'yes' vote in the referendum in the autumn all that will happen is that an extra layer of politicians will be created who will be able to write strategy papers, publish consultation documents and take soundings - but do little else. Surely this is not value for money when it will cost around £25 million to set up and £25 million a year to run. Looking at the government's track record on estimating the cost of devolution in Scotland, Wales and London, this would be likely to increase significantly.

In return for this costly assembly John Prescott would be adding a layer of politicians to those that already exist on Hartlepool Borough Council. He also proposes to draw up powers from local government to a regional assembly rather than down from Whitehall in London. He plans to raise your Council Tax through the assembly without any clear idea of what tangible difference that political body would make or what services it would deliver. This would not be an institution the North East could be proud of, rather it would be a bureaucratic body that talked big but delivered little. The proposals on offer from John Prescott are the worst of all worlds - more tax, more bureaucracy, more politicians but less local democracy.

I believe that what the North East needs is real devolution, for genuine powers from Whitehall to be passed down to local government, not a regional talking shop. There is a clear disparity between the North and South of England and this needs to be addressed at local levels by local communities.

Those in favour of an assembly often talk rather grandly of the need for a 'voice for our region'. The Tees Valley is currently exclusively represented by Labour MPs who sit on the government benches. In total the North East has 28 Labour MPs including the Prime Minister, the Chief Whip and numerous former Cabinet Ministers (including Hartlepool's MP). If these people are not being our voice and influencing on behalf of the North East then they should get a new job. The idea that a regional assembly will be able to be 'a voice for the North East' where powerful Labour MPs have failed is simply a red herring aimed to appeal to the emotions rather than reality.

When the time comes to vote in the referendum in the autumn, I am certain that the people of Hartlepool will not be beguiled by the smoke and mirrors of John Prescott and his taxpayer funded 'information campaign'. I hope readers of the Hartlepool Mail will vote 'no' in the referendum, which is a vote for keeping a strong voice for local people in Hartlepool and a statement that we do not want more politicians who will be setting even higher Council taxes for the people of the North East.

Martin Callanan MEP
North East; Conservative