Press Release
6pm Thursday 11th March 2004

NE MP 'confused' about Assembly surveys

Perhaps Gateshead MP Joyce Quin is now succumbing to Prescott's propaganda campaign on elected regional Government, or perhaps Ms. Quin is confusing her utopian dream of becoming a main player in an elected Assembly (influenced by the surreality that exists within the Westmister bubble) with the actual reality of life here in the North East.

In a response to Regions Minister, Nick Raynsford, made in the Commons yesterday, Ms. Quin said,

"I welcome my right hon. Friend's remarks about the public hearings that are taking place. He will have seen surveys by the BBC and others that show increased public awareness of regional government, and, indeed, increased support for it. ..."

The BBC's Press Officer Mark Cotton, states,

" the BBC have conducted no such survey. The last one was in March 2002 and commissioned by Opinion Research Business, but that was now two years ago."

The recent Journal Poll showed precisely the opposite to Ms. Quin's statement... a lack of public awareness. Over 60% of the people in their survey didn't even know there was a referendum this year."

Neil Herron, Campaign Director of the North East No Campaign, said:

"It is very disappointing to believe that such a high profile MP can continue making such misleading and confusing statements. One has to question whether this is a case of a person desperately trying to believe their own and party propaganda, or the 'ostrich syndrome' of sand and head burying, due to the fact that Prescott's Dream of regional Government for the North East is rapidly turning into a nightmare of Elm Street proportions."

"The harsh reality is that the public are not engaged because the 'will of the people' is a manufactured concept. What we are simply witnessing is the imposition of ill thought out Government policy to fulfil a manifesto pledge and supporters of the concept are now resorting to desperate measures to keep any hopes alive."

We are still awaiting comment from Ms. Quin's office...(0191 4696006)

ENDS

Contact: Neil Herron Campaign Director North East No Campaign

48 Frederick Street Sunderland SR1 1NF Tel. 0191 5657143 Mob. 07776 202045