That this House notes with concern that the recent statement from Sir John Banham, erstwhile Chairman of the Local Goverment Commission, that the Commission was specifically 'established for political reasons to deal with political problems' destroys effectively any remaining credibility the Commission may have had and confirms unquestionably that its real purpose has been the eradication of those Labour authorities who have been most successful in resisting Tory Government diktat; notes also that Banham's statement contradicts previous assurances from both himself and Government Ministers that the Commission's proceedings were independent of governmental or party political pressure and in so doing demonstrates clearly the manner in which this House has been consistently misled on matters of local government; and calls upon thoe honourable Members who have in the past supported the Commission in its procedures and proposals to now acknowledge publicly that Sir John's comments illustrate clearly how they have allowed themselves to be manipulated in a squalid and transparent conspiracy which had nothing to do with the establishment of more effective local government and everything to do with the cynical abuse of power aimed at destroying those authorites which the Tory Government had consistently failed to control through proper democratic process or the Tory Party had consistently failed to defeat through the ballot box.

That this House notes with concern that the recent statement from Sir John Banham, erstwhile Chairman of the Local Goverment Commission, that the Commission was specifically 'established for political reasons to deal with political problems' destroys effectively any remaining credibility the Commission may have had and confirms unquestionably that its...