'Push for best deal for region'.

A go for gold message to the North-east, in the debate on a regional parliament, has been delivered by a leading member of the Welsh Assembly.

Janet Ryder, the Welsh Assembly's shadow spokesman for local government and public affairs, told the annual meeting of the North East Assembly that the region should push as hard as possible for the maximum amount of powers for the elected regional assembly.

Mrs Ryder, who was born in Sunderland, said: "You must go for the gold-plated assembly. Push it as far as you can to get the best possible deal."

She said a national government in London would never produce policies which were right for Wales or the North-east.

"The assembly in Wales is very mindful everyone must feel involved and we are going to take steps to direct departments to other parts of Wales. The public perception is crucial to the success of the assembly," she said.

Councillor Tony Flynn, the assembly's retiring chairman, said the assembly would be trying to influence the legislation, which would allow the setting up of an elected assembly.

In the run-up to the referendum, the assembly wanted to ensure that an informed debate was held throughout the region.

"My personal view is there is no going back as far as regionalism is concerned. More decisions will be taken at regional level whatever the referendum result is," he said.

During a debate on the prospect of an elected regional assembly Councillor Stephen Smailes, Stockton Council's Conservative Group leader, said: "It does seem the North East Assembly, the Labour Party, and the Liberal Democrats think we are going to have an elected regional assembly but the people have to vote yea or nay."

But Stockton Council leader Bob Gibson, who is the assembly's new chairman, said: "The North-east is the most deprived part of England. It is time the region took this situation into its own hands and fought its own battles.

"Bringing power down to the people is the right way to do this."

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