IT would appear that Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is now "regionalising" the Army in the name of "modernisation"?

Why, oh why, doesn't this government ever tell us the truth? Did not Mr Hoon agree, earlier in the year, to split the army into "Battle Groups" to meet the EU's requirements for its proposed "Rapid Reaction Force"?

Once again the Government (if it can be called a government) is derisively and stealthily taking another step towards leading us into a federal state of Europe.

His changes fit in nicely with the government's intentions of eliminating countries and splitting the country in regions as required by the EU.

The first stealthy referendum for a regional government (who, south of Darlington even knew it was to take place?) returned a resounding "no".

But Mr Blair is determined to ignore the wishes of the people and proceed with his wish to continually downgrade and dilute this once great nation until it is nothing more than a soulless conglomerate community which can be dictated to - and led by the nose.

When, oh when, are we going to see the Opposition do its job and oppose the Government instead of continually sitting on the fence.

We are told it is a party of action - utterly laughable.

E F SHOWELL,

Fernhill Heath,

Worcester.