I READ with utter dismay and a degree of disbelief the Liberal Democrat proposals for a North West Regional Assembly.
Not only do they fully support the Labour government's expensive and ridiculous proposals, but they would fund it through a regional income tax.
Should the Lib-Dem proposals become reality, average earners would pay £500 a year in additional income tax and even more for two-income households.
As a Conservative, I make no apology for saying that a North West Assembly would be a spectacular failure and this would spell the end of local democracy and a slow painful death of local decision-making.
Extending our boundaries or regional assemblies would alienate people even further from the political process and take power away from local people.
In addition, it will pour millions of pounds of taxpayers' money down another bureaucratic black hole.
The mere suggestion that people would welcome increased taxes, dilution of democracy and more talking shops is laughable in the extreme.
COUN PAUL McGURTY, Wharfdale Close Feniscowles, Blackburn.
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