Much as I like the notion of devolving power to the English regions - London and the southeast have been sucking resources away from the rest of the country for far too long, and it would be very good indeed to see the power and self-importance of the denizens of Westminster cut down to size - I do fret about the quality of local government we might subsequently be faced with. I mean, look around you. Petty corruption, favours for friends, freemasonry (amazing that this hasn't been prised open and blasted away yet. Or perhaps it has), a huge degree of lack of accountability to the electorate. People not daring to speak out for fear of being victimised. Misuse by local authority officials of access to personal data. All of which plague small local administrations such as that from which we benefit in Stafford. Grandiose schemes for big shops and aspirational houses in the town centre being sold to the punters using snake-oil methods. When and where did we get to authorise the building of a fancy new headquarters for the county council with our own money? Were we ever given the chance to choose between this and a decent bus service? Course not. That, I fear, is the quality of public service, but with access to more public money and more opportunities for passing business the way of well-heeled mates and for acquiring lavish offices, that we'd see in this neck of the woods if this lot were given half a chance. Now, anybody know somebody on the planning committee?