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News Release 17th June 2003NO REGIONAL GOVERNMENT FOR WEST MIDLANDS"Following careful consideration, the Deputy Prime Minister has decided that the current level of interest in holding a referendum on elected regional assemblies in the West Midlands region is low. 'I have therefore not directed the Boundary Committee to carry out a local government review there at the moment - a necessary precursor to referendums.'" And with these words yesterday (Monday 16th June), the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott lifted the sword of Damocles that had been hanging over the future of Lichfield, Burntwood and the West Midlands. Only a small percentage of people in the West Midlands responded to the Government enquiry and of them, only 16% agreed to a regional assembly in the west midlands. Michael Fabricant says: "A Regional Government would have taken power away from the people of the rural West Midlands including Staffordshire. It would have eliminated Staffordshire County Council and probably combined Lichfield with Tamworth and Burton. Power would have then resided in Birmingham and the Black Country. "But John Prescott has said this will only delay Regional Government for a few brief years. It is important that we stay vigilant to any future plans to introduce Regional Government which would not only take local Government away from Staffordshire, it would also cost the local tax payer countless millions" adds Mr Fabricant. |
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