FORMER boxer John Prescott has been given a bloody nose by the people of the North East. Voters rejected his plans for a regional assembly by a margin of more than three to one.
More than half the residents didn't even bother to take part, a clear demonstration that this vision of devolved government has not caught the public imagination. The Deputy Prime Minister should drop the idea of a Yorkshire Assembly now.
People do want devolved government. But they want the powers devolved to their doorstep. The message to Mr Prescott is clear: give power back to the town halls, not to artificial, remote and expensive regional talking shops.
Updated: 10:06 Friday, November 05, 2004
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