n THE Government's plans to abolish England's shire counties have been rightly exposed by Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant.

This Government is so anti-establishment they are prepared to break up all our tried and tested institutions.

In a debate in the House of Lords, Labour Minister, Lord Falconer, conceded that regional government would result in the abolition of one of the tiers of local government.

The cat is out of the bag. Labour's plans for regional assemblies will mean the abolition of England's historic shire counties.

Rather than devolving responsibilities to local communities, Labour is going to transfer power to a new tier of regional politicians.

Bureaucracy

The Government must now tell the public how much such restructuring will

cost - it could be as much as £2bn.

As ever, taxpayers' money is being wasted on bureaucracy and red tape, rather than improving Britain's crumbling public services.

This is the worst Government I have seen in living memory. Tony Blair and all his cronies are a disgrace to the democracy for which we have fought two world wars.

Shame on the lot of them - from a councillor who sits on a council under threat!

STEPHEN CLEE,

Worcestershire County Councillor,

County Hall,

Worcester.