ONE outcome of the recent local elections seems to have escaped the headlines.

Throughout the country, Conservatives now have 7,641 councillors - nearly 1,000 more than Labour, and substantially ahead of the Liberal Democrats.

The Tories also control 137 local authorities - 50 more than Labour.

In terms of true local democracy, this should logically lead to Conservatives taking control of the national Local Government Association (LGA).

In this instance, logic does not apply and Labour will continue to run it.

The LGA is organised so that greater weighting is given to urban and metropolitan areas at the expense of the Shires.

This is a simple foretaste of what would happen to local democracy in Worcestershire if John Prescott succeeded in inflicting Regional Government upon us.

We must fight to ensure it cannot take place.

PHILIP BUSHILL-MATTHEWS,

MEP European Parliament, Brussels.