"Dave Arquati" wrote in message
...
This is partly to do with transport in London, as I think it probably
affects TfL (although I might be wrong). I was interested to hear Michael
Howard mention (very briefly) on his Jeremy Paxman interview tonight that
the Conservatives would abolish the regional assemblies.

That struck me as odd originally, as they don't oppose the Scottish or
Welsh devolved authorities (more for the sake of "not playing into the
hands of the nationalists" than anything else), and I thought there
weren't any regional assemblies following the failed North East
referendum. Of course, that was stupid of me; I'm living in the only!

It doesn't seem to be a highly publicised or discussed policy, but if the
Conservatives were to take power (however likely/unlikely that is), then I
imagine that would have a significant impact on transport in London,
amongst other issues, as the Mayor essentially commands TfL.

Speaking cynically and as someone extremely unlikely to vote Conservative,
I'd say the Tories are annoyed that we still have Ken Livingstone as Mayor
despite a Conservative majority on the Assembly, and don't think the 72%
vote in favour of the creation of the GLA really matters. Others may, of
course, have different opinions :-)

There are no plans to abolish the London Assembly. I think what Michael
Howard was referring are the unelected assemblies that each region has such
as http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk or http://www.northeastassembly.gov.uk/

Peter Smyth