Why does the conservative party oppose the establishment of elected
regional assemblies?

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 04 May 2004 12:16 PDT

All the reasons for opposition are stated in this article. I would
summarize it for you but it is important that you read it in it's
entirety as there are many issues being discussed in detail. Please
let me know if this serves to answer your question and I will close it
for you.

THE REGIONALISATION OF BRITAIN
http://www.regionalassemblies.co.uk/3239.html

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

Hello rai130

The Conservatives' main arguments are:

* An extra layer of politicians and bureaucrats would increase
government interference in people's lives.
* Regional assemblies would take power away from local government.
They would not have the effect of devolving power from Westminster, as
their supporters believe.
* More government in the form of regional assemblies wouldn't improve
public services.
* The cost to the taxpayer of establishing and running the assemblies
would be excessive.
* There is little public support for the idea of regional assemblies.

Following the links below should round out the picture for you, but
please let me know if you need something clarified or expanded, so I
can do my best to help you further.

Best Wishes - Leli


From the Conservative party's own website:

" . . . the more people know about the proposals for devolved
assemblies the less enthusiasm they have for them. Regional assemblies
would undermine local government and lead to more centralisation
within regions."
http://www.conservatives.com/news/article.cfm?obj_id=85196

[People are] "concerned that their community would not only lose its
sense of identity, but also be starved of funding and resources
[...]
England already has enough politicians. Public services won't improve
by creating yet more."
http://www.conservatives.com/news/article.cfm?obj_id=36983

Michael Howard, party leader: 
"I have been setting out my belief that the people should be big and
the state should be small.
[...]
Labour?s plans for regional assemblies are unnecessary, expensive and
out of date. They will have vague and undefined powers and a license
to meddle in the affairs of local areas. The abolition of counties and
yet another wholesale upheaval of local government will do nothing to
devolve power closer to the people."
http://www.conservatives.com/news/show_article.cfm?obj_id=88156

"No one wants another tier of government with all the bureaucracy and
interventionist approach which is inherent and certainly the current
two tier system of local government in the shire counties meets the
needs of local people."
http://www.conservatives.com/ep_regions_1.cfm

"The poll showed that 72 per cent of people believed local planning
decisions were best made at local level, compared to just 18 per cent
wanting regional decision making."
http://www.conservatives.com/news/article.cfm?obj_id=85196
(Please note: other polls have varied.)

"David Davis has warned of white elephants and wasted taxpayers money"
http://www.conservatives.com/news/article.cfm?obj_id=64076


===========================================================


"The shadow local government secretary, Theresa May, said: "England
already has enough politicians. Public services won't improve by
creating a new type of politician. More talking shops won't boost
economic growth or help the vulnerable.
These new politicians will not come cheap. "
http://society.guardian.co.uk/regionalgovernment/story/0,8150,712634,00.html


For some people, the issue of regional assemblies is bound up with 
European federalism:

"Most Conservatives oppose them on the grounds that there is no
regional identity in England; that it is a centralising measure; and
in extreme cases that it is an "EU plot". "
http://society.guardian.co.uk/regionalgovernment/comment/0,8146,840259,00.html


You might read the "regional assemblies" section in this speech by
David Davis to the Conservative Party Conference:
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/tories2002/story/0,12295,806983,00.html


In the House of Commons a Tory MP challenged a Labour minister on the
question of regional assemblies taking power away from local councils:

"Mr. Lidington [Conservative]:   In what ways will abolishing a county
council in Aylesbury so that powers can be transferred to a regional
assembly in Guildford or Reading bring government closer to local
people?

Dr. Whitehead [Labour]: The hon. Gentleman seems to be under the
misapprehension that the purpose of regional government is to suck
powers up from local government."
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020305/debtext/20305-03.htm


Interestingly, this article says that the Conservatives "ought to"
support the assemblies, and that it would be consistent with their
traditional outlook:

" . . . the reform chimes so strikingly with the party's philosophy and history.
A witan in York or an althing in Durham is an instrument designed for
three purposes: taking power from the centre; celebrating local
self-confidence; and making a large slice of government bureaucracy
accountable to ordinary Jills and Joes."
http://society.guardian.co.uk/regionalgovernment/comment/0,8146,979871,00.html


The BBC has various articles which may also be helpful:
://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&lr=&cr=countryUK|countryGB&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=+site:news.bbc.co.uk+conservatives+OR+tories+%22regional+assemblies%22


Search strategy
---------------

Existing knowledge 

Searching Google with:

Conservatives OR Tories "regional assemblies"

Searching with "regional assemblies" at:
http://www.conservatives.com

Thank you very much... saved a great deal of time.