AGAINST the wishes of the large majority who voted to retain the district councils in County Durham, North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong is in favour of a single unitary authority. So much for the campaign by the Government to encourage people to use their vote, when it seems fewer are doing so.

Democracy dies when our MPs assume the office of a delegate.

They are not delegates, but are sent by the people to the House of Commons as representatives.

Perhaps there would be less apathy among voters if our MPs heeded the words of Winston Churchill when he said: "Trust the people".

R Gibson, Crook, Co Durham.

THE North-East rejected an elected regional assembly. It is not worth going over the reasons for the missed opportunity, but the consequences were predictable.

Having seen off a popular coordinated voice for the North-East, the southern-based bureaucrats are getting on with their preferred agenda. The Northern Echo bravely tries to fill the vacuum with its Shaping the Future campaign on behalf of the region.

Let's hope it is successful. And let's cut out the nonsense from the UK Independence Party. Whatever demons are operating in Europe, they are nothing to do with the control freaks in Whitehall. Is Gordon Brown's government up to the challenge?

Eric Shuttleworth, Darlington.