Labor Party as giving support for devolution. In 1995, Jack Straw, the shadow home secretary, published his proposal for regional government. Many saw the plan as too cautious. It suggested that the first step should be "regional chambers" composed of existing councillors from within the region, and any move to create a directly elected assembly would have to be approved by this regional chamber, by parliament, and by a regionwide referendum. This placed numerous obstacles in the way of any further devolution. This led to a grassroots rebellion against the proposals at the Labour Party Conference, at which time constituencies in the North east sent in fifteen resolutions calling for a directly elected assembly. Many younger activists and middle ranking trade union officials cared about the issue, were influential in their constituencies, and were very well organized. Supporters of regional government see it as a way of c
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