(Hexham Courant, NOVEMBER 2003)

John Prescott launched the government's 'information campaign' on a the regional assembly referendum this week. In my opinion it would be better described as the militant wing of the 'Yes' campaign, but perhaps that is being a little uncharitable. However, one thing is for sure - the taxpayers of Tynedale will be helping to foot the bill for this extravegant campaign, which seems outrageous when we consider only a few dozen people in Tynedale even expressed a desire for a referendum in the first place.

We already know that a regional assembly would cost the region about £25 million a year to run if it is established and at least it can be said the government has been up front with this figure (although I seem to remember they costed the Scottish Parliament at £40 million and its budget has just topped the £400 million mark!). However, this 'information campaign' has arrived by stealth - John Prescott, accompanied by a band of Whitehall officials, a tour bus, mountains of glossy brochures, posters, pens and badges, to say nothing of the numerous expensively employed professional PR and Marketing advisers arrived in the North East to tell us all about a regional assembly and how good it would be. Mr. Prescott has so far declined the opportunity to publish the cost of all this.

But even that isn't the end of the regional assembly tax bandwagon. One of the new information booklets states that 'part of the cost [for the assembly] would be met by a council tax amounting, in the first year, to 5p a week for Band D properties.' As local authorities such as Tynedale begin to finalise next year's council tax they have already had to incorporate the costs of particpating in the local government boundary review triggered by the referendum, but now face the prospect of further council tax rises imposed on them if a regional assembly is created. And, as the booklet hints, this figure could go up even further after the first year.

A regional assembly in the North East is John Prescott's dream, but looks increasingly like a nightmare for the taxpayers of Tynedale.

Martin Callanan MEP
North East Region; Conservative