BUSINESS leaders have reacted angrily to comments attributed to the Deputy Prime Minister in which he is alleged to have dismissed the North-East Chamber of Commerce as "a Tory organisation".

The quote was attributed to Mr Prescott in an article in yesterday's Financial Times.

In the article he dismissed the findings of a survey of chamber members earlier in the campaign, which suggested an overwhelming majority of respondents were opposed to a regional assembly.

Mr Prescott said a regional assembly would help the region's economy.

He said: "I must say that the North-East economy has prospered like everyone has under the seven years of a Labour government.

"One can hope that politicians' decisions help them. They may not create the jobs, but they can create the environment in which business can be more prosperous."

He is also reported to have chided business leaders for shirking civic duty, saying: "Don't forget, these are business people who don't want to play a part in public life, they don't want to do that. They just want to do their business and look after themselves."

Last night, George Cowcher, chief executive of the chamber, said: "The North-East Chamber of Commerce is independent of any political affiliations and remains non-aligned to either the Yes or No campaign for the elected assembly referendum.

"It is disappointing that a senior Government Minister seeks to claim otherwise."

Mr Cowcher said the many business people across the North-East who were involved in all aspects of civic society would also be disheartened by the suggestion they sought to shirk their civic duty.