Letter to the Journal 6/7/09

10.45.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Jul 2009

Dear Editor

After 12 years of Labour government, during which time the calls for investment in transport connections to the North East have been loud and clear, we still find ourselves written off by Whitehall mandarins and ministers as being "not strategically important" (Journal, 6/7/09).

It is simply not good enough for Minister for the North East Nick Brown to simultaneously run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, by issuing warnings to colleagues and speaking about his support for regional investment whilst being part of an administration which continues to ignore the fundamental needs of this region. What is the use of a Minister for the North East, especially one regarded as one of the Prime Minister's closest allies, if he is unable to deliver on such a key priority?

Unfortunately, the problem extends beyond transport. Regional housing and regeneration budgets are being cut and redirected to the South East. Regional unemployment is soaring, and regional employers ranging from Corus to the Royal Mail are facing crisis. On all these issues Nick Brown gets plenty of quotes in the regional press, but rarely achieves much action.

As the General Election looms, it is difficult to escape the recent conclusion of the prominent Guardian political commentator, Martin Kettle: "Nick Brown talks a good game but is struggling to deliver when it counts".

Yours sincerely

Greg Stone

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman, Newcastle East