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		Government Release White Paper on "Europe Day" - 9 May 2002 Local Conservative Euro-MPs Chris Heaton-Harris and Roger Helmer have warned that the White Paper 'Your Region, Your Choice - Revitalising the English Regions' poses a major threat to the long-term integrity of the United Kingdom. Ironically the White Paper is due to be officially launched tomorrow (Thursday) on "Europe Day". Local Government in England is facing a massive shake-up after Labour today revealed plans to divide Britain up into administrative regions laid out by the European Commission. The White Paper would inevitably result in: The abolition of established Metropolitan Councils and the historic Shire Counties. A series of referenda on Regional Assemblies across England, drawn up to match the administrative regions created by the EU. Letting the Regions deal directly with Brussels, thus bypassing Westminster scrutiny of EU expenditure and diminishing national sovereignty. The merging of existing Local Councils into "super-authorities " taking Government further away from the people.   Chris Heaton-Harris MEP, speaking after John Prescott's announcement in the Commons today, said: "Today, the Labour Government has shown that it has swallowed Romano Prodi's vision of a federal Europe hook, line and sinker. Is it any wonder that they chose 'Europe Day' for its release? "This is about breaking the United Kingdom up into administrative units as set out by bureaucrats in Brussels. For years now, maps of the EU have ceased to show England and have instead shown these regions; this is the next step along the road towards fulfilling this federalist ambition. "Local democracy needs revitalisation, but that should be done through existing channels rather than throwing away the baby with the bathwater. It is no coincidence that this paper follows hot on the heels of an EU White Paper on Regional Governance released last autumn. That laid out the blueprint for a Europe of the Regions, with nation states like the United Kingdom relegated to the sidelines." Speaking in Brussels Roger Helmer MEP said: "The Government claims this White Paper is about the devolution of power, but that is simply not the case. What the paper is actually proposing is a Britain of Regions governed from Brussels. "I am appalled at the proposals. In the words of John Major 'If the answer is more politicians, we're asking the wrong question."