Kevin Rowan column

May 8 2006 By Kevin Rowan, The Journal

Sadly, the predictions proved to be true, and the BNP made significant gains in the local elections in London and made gains in Yorkshire and the Potteries.

Fortunately, voters in the North-East remained consistent in dismissing the right-wing, nationalist policies of this group.

Quite clearly, on a national level, last Thursday's election results were very bad for the Labour Party, and the Tories benefited most from the Government's misdemeanours and mistakes.

But in our region, the Labour vote held up pretty well, generally repeating the traditional behaviour patterns of voters in the North-East.

The Liberal Democrats made much less progress than they were expecting in Newcastle, partly prompting the predicted demise of their leader Peter Arnold; in Sunderland, Labour lost only one of its 60 seats; the Labour Group in Gateshead were buoyed by their results; and there was one idiosyncratic drift which saw a single UKIP councillor elected in Hartlepool. The Liberals have made little real inroads, the Conservatives none, and the BNP are consistently rejected; the message is clear, this remains Labour heartland territory.

The Prime Minister has acted quickly to shuffle the pack, seeking to give the Government renewed credibility and impetus.

But what ought to be clear from last week's elections, is that this Government owes this region, big time, and it will be interesting to see how some of the structural changes will impact upon the North-East.

John Prescott was always one of the key drivers of `regional policy' in the Government.

His vision of decentralised administrations was clearly dented by the `no' vote in the referendum 18 months ago, and more recently challenged by David Miliband's pre-occupation with cities and city-regions.

Miliband's move to Defra may take some impetus out of the city focus; and the regional dynamic is potentially challenged by Ruth Kelly taking over Prescott's departmental role.

However, one of the less public appointments was for Ed Balls to reappear in the Treasury team.

Balls was one of the leading agents for regionalism when a special adviser to Brown, before joining the green benches. We wait with impatient optimism for the regional dimension to be reinvigorated in a way which will help regions like ours.

Kevin Rowan is regional secretary of the Northern TUC