"Following careful consideration, the Deputy Prime Minister has decided that
the current level of interest in holding a referendum on elected regional
assemblies in the West Midlands region is low. ‘I have therefore not
directed the Boundary Committee to carry out a local government review there
at the moment – a necessary precursor to referendums.’"

And with these words yesterday (Monday 16th June), the Deputy Prime Minister
John Prescott lifted the sword of Damocles that had been hanging over the
future of Lichfield, Burntwood and the West Midlands.

Only a small percentage of people in the West Midlands responded to the
Government enquiry and of them, only 16% agreed to a regional assembly in
the west midlands.

Michael Fabricant says: "A Regional Government would have taken power away
from the people of the rural West Midlands including Staffordshire. It
would have eliminated Staffordshire County Council and probably combined
Lichfield with Tamworth and Burton. Power would have then resided in
Birmingham and the Black Country.

"But John Prescott has said this will only delay Regional Government for a
few brief years. It is important that we stay vigilant to any future plans
to introduce Regional Government which would not only take local Government
away from Staffordshire, it would also cost the local tax payer countless
millions" adds Mr Fabricant.