HAVING risen without trace, the South West and South East Regional Assemblies have now sunk without trace.

The Treasury has had the good sense to scupper them. They served no obvious function, despite being supported by politicians of all stripes most notoriously by the Conservatives.

Being the largest group they could have pulled the plug years ago, but despite constant complaining in public, the Tories failed to take the appropriate action.

We are now left with rule by the oligarchs of the Development Agencies. That cannot be allowed to continue. "No taxation without representation" is our watchword.

Scotland has a parliament and Wales has its assembly. Wessex, which is bigger in terms of population than the two added together, has to have a parliament.

ROBERT SPRATT, The Wessex Party.