Robert Theobald and Jenny Sleep report on the latest demonstrations in London against the regionalisation of England.

On the 7th April, SEERA, the South East of England Regional Assembly, held a "plenary meeting" at 1 Birdcage Walk, London.

Activists opposed to the breaking up of England into "Regions" via "Regional Assemblies" held a protest meeting outside.

Our picture shows, from left to right : Sarah Blackburn, Margart Biggart, Terry Kendal, Victor Webb, Patricia, Maurice Blackburn, Dennis Davey (with cap), Betty Simmerson, Jenny Spain (behind placard), Caroline Lange, Adrian Romilly, Judy King, George Norton and Jenny Sleep

The following is a report of a similar protest which we held three weeks earlier at the Dorchester Hotel on 15th March 2004:

Fresh from our group's recent successful protest at a meeting of the South-East of England Regional Assembly (SEERA) meeting at Woking, Surrey, where front page local newspaper coverage and favourable editorial were achieved, we arrived on the pavement outside London's Dorchester Hotel.

This 'Breaking Free from Central Government' conference was sponsored by Capita PLC, the Government's favourite outsourcing company. Their contracts include collection of the BBC licence fee and of the London Congestion charge. RMP Risk Management was co-sponsor. With an entrance fee of £595+VAT for private sector delegates and £395+VAT for public sector, attending the conference was out of the question for us.

We handed out information packs to delegates which included letters from Lord Stoddart and Frederick Forsyth, Bryan Smalley's newly updated history of regionalisation, George West's Regionalisation 'Democrat' Broadsheet, The Campaign for an Independent Britain's (CIB) 'Divide and Conquer' leaflet, and North-East No Campaign's 10 reasons to reject an elected Regional Assembly.

Betty Simmerson, Greta Smith and Caroline Lange distributed packs to delegates as they entered the hotel. We knew this would be difficult, as the hotel forecourt at the Dorchester is private ground. They managed to give out about a dozen packs. That sounds insignificant, however enough curiosity was aroused for the Hotel management to request a copy, which we believe found its way to the sponsors.

Luton (Bedfordshire) campaigner Judy King recognised Darra Singh, the Chief Executive of Luton Borough Council during a break outside the conference. A delegate pack was posted to him the next day at Luton Town Hall.

Conference 'Keynote' speaker Rt. Hon David Curry MP, europhile shadow local government minister spoke but resigned from the shadow front bench the same day due to 'family reasons'. Nick Raynesford, the Regions Minister, who is deeply involved with the regionalisation of Britain, arrived unscheduled.

Protestors saw neither hide nor hair of the other 'Keynote' speaker, Chief Moose, a controversial former US police chief who bungled investigations into the Washington Sniper multiple shooting attacks and now bizarrely presenting himself as an international 'Crisis Management Expert'.

Jewish World Review journalist Michelle Malkin opined "Why any group would want to host or hire Chief Moose as an exemplar of effective, responsible public leadership is beyond me".

We sent out press releases followed up with phone calls and had further documentary information for the press about regional government with evidence of our claims of the increased costs and risks of it, namely much less local democracy, increased bureaucracy and the promotion of Federal Europe to the detriment of our Westminster parliament.

Two press agency reporters visited us and photos were taken. Editors are aware that 'regionalisation' is a very dry subject for most people. Nonetheless it is a mortal danger for European democracies that must be recognized and resisted.

Our signage was clear and well written. We lashed signs and placards to the railings facing the very busy Park Lane. The main signs read ONE ENGLAND: NO REGIONS and DANGER: MEN BREAKING UP BRITAIN both 8'x4'(2.5m x 1.2m) They were noticed and read by thousands of drivers and bus passengers.

Valiant Betty Simmerson, (arrested and detained in Brussels in 1972 when Britain joined the then 'Common Market') took many photos for the London independent local newspapers.

WHAT WAS ACHIEVED?
Our lively presence surprised those hoping to profit by the EU inspired break-up of England into regions. Delegates were informed of the wider implications of regionalisation. We gave out several hundreds of CIB's 'Real Danger' (of the EU Constitution) and 'Divide and Conquer' leaflets to the public.

A group of us went to the side entrance of Buckingham Palace for where the 'Defenders of the Realm' petition of 900,000 signatures was presented by Roy Faiers (This England magazine) Norris McWhirter and John Gouriet. This petition requests the Queen not to sign the Parliamentary Bill passing the European Constitution into British law until the public had had the opportunity to vote on it in a fair referendum.

To join further demonstrations, contact	Robert Theobald
telephone:  01582 724644             e-mail:  lunadeplata@onetel.net.uk