8. A regional assembly would be just another talking-shop for 'upgraded' local politicians and 'downgraded' national politicians. People on the streets are already saying it will be the 'usual suspects' and result in 'jobs for the boys.'

There is not a shred of evidence that we will see the emergence of a new dynamic breed of business focussed politicians, or that the Assembly would be business driven.

It is likely that there will be a dominance and descent into party politics, with perhaps a few token individuals drawn from minority parties and groups elected under the system of proportional representation. A change in the national Government with the opposition party holding power in the Assembly would have potentially disastrous consequences for the North East.

Business in general is opposed to elected Assemblies to say the least, and far from convinced by any arguments or reassurances from the Government. The CBI, Chambers of Commerce, and the Institute of Directors all oppose them. The British Chambers of Commerce say, "Voting 'yes' would be a vote for higher taxes, regulation and unemployment."