SO, a crony-stuffed quango and Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies are asking for a parliament in the North West.

The first question to be asked is who wants another layer of government? The answer is only the people who want to sit on it. But what is much more important is the European dimension.

To further the European Union's empire-building desires, it has long wanted to reduce (and eventually do away with) the power of national governments and take most control to itself.

As part of this long-term strategy, it is slicing away at Westminster's powers. Most decisions are now made in Brussels (by unelected Eurocrats) and they wish to devolve some remaining powers down to regional parliaments and, hey presto, they have almost got all they want.

Just a short hop then to a full Euro superstate with Brussels lording it over local assemblies. Westminster will then be a tourist attraction. Guides will say "This is where elected MPs used to govern Britain."

People often ask their governments for more doctors, more nurses, more policemen, but I have never heard any one ask for more politicians. So let's scrap this sinister European plan for a regional parliament right now.

GRAHAM CANNON (UK Independence Party, East Lancashire branch), 52 Bank Parade, Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.