9. This is not real 'devolution' and an Assembly of 25 members will not bring democracy 'closer to the people.'

It will mean each assembly member will represent around 100,000 people. With the local government reorganisation and the removal of either the counties or districts, there will be the loss of many councillors who are closer to the communities they serve than an assembly member ever could be. There is also the problem that small rural areas will lose their voice, as they will be completely overlooked in a new central authority. This is hardly bringing democracy closer to the people.

The North East is being fobbed off: this is fake devolution and is most certainly not ' Home Rule' as some local newspapers would mistakenly have you believe. Powers (over things like fire services, housing, transport and planning, and possibly even over the police) will be acquired from local councils and taken up to regional level.

Real devolution would reduce government powers and hand them back to the historic counties and cities of England.