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Don't say I never do anything for you. As promised a brief guide to some of the more regionally relevant policies of the smaller parties at this election.

It's just a small selection, and, of course, as with all political pledges, it's worth looking at the full manifesto to see if there are details of how some of these policies would be paid for.

:

- Establish local community banks.
- Reopen the post offices that have been shut.
- Encourage local live arts performances by moving funding from the regional to the local level.
- Phase out nuclear power, and get 50% of energy from renewable sources. Stop any new coal-fired stations.
- Scrap the roadbuilding programme and spend the money on public transport.
- Stop airport expansion, and support a new north-south high speed rail line.
- Provide more allotments.

:

- Spend £3.5bn over 25 years to build new nuclear power stations so they provide up to half our energy.
- Support plans for British-mined coal and oppose onshore windfarms.
- Embark on a £30bn 10-year programme of building new flood and sea defences.
- Establish directly elected police and health boards, and support directly-elected mayors.
- Invest in three new 200mph high speed rail lines including one from London to Newcastle.
- Reopen other local rail lines where needed.

- Oppose foreign ownership of nuclear power stations.
- Ban all further windfarms, and look to spend £300m to reopen some deep coal mines.
- Abolish the regional development agencies.
- Introduce a "local connection test" for anyone applying for council housing.
- Dual the A1 and A69 with the aim of eventually making them three-lane motorways.

And one final one that I couldn't resist. The Monster Raving Loony Party say they'll sell Northern Rock and buy Blackpool Rock. Boo-boom.

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