THE debate on whether the North-East should have its own regional assembly is certainly picking up momentum. In the past fortnight, I estimate 20 different people, all with their own viewpoint and agenda, have raised the issue with me.

Of equal interest was the recent entry into the debate of people not normally associated with politics.

Sir John Hall is a businessman for whom I have the highest respect, and his commitment to stand was rightly heralded by this newspaper as a step in the right direction in persuading people that an assembly would not simply be another tier of politicians draining the public purse. I was also pleased to see Rob Nicholls, editor of the Middlesbrough fanzine Fly Me to the Moon, enter the debate and declare his belief that the assembly would be good for the region.

I'm yet to make up my mind whether I support a North-East assembly, but it is pleasing to see a public debate taking place and engaging people from all spectrums of society.

Certainly I can see benefits in such an assembly, dealing strategically on a region-wide basis with big issues such as transport, housing, economic development and health.

But the major concern I have is that people elected to the assembly will feel duty bound to fight for their own particular backyard rather than the region as a whole. Instead of thinking strategically for the North-East, they will think politically to win favour with their own local party or voters.

I am a member of the Tees Valley Partnership, which involves representatives from Darlington and Teesside. When I sit on it I take my mayoral hat off and listen to arguments on the basis of what is best for the sub-region and I encourage others to do the same.

Just because, for example, you are from Darlington, it doesn't mean you cannot appreciate the benefits for the region of a thriving river Tees.

In December, I had the pleasure of visiting Dubai in my role as Mayor of Middlesbrough. I saw first hand the incredible success story that has built up there under the stewardship of economic development minister Mohammed Ali Allabar.

Mr Allabar also has millions of pounds to invest abroad and we anticipate welcoming him to Middlesbrough to view the Middlehaven site in June. However, I will also be taking him to see the wonderful cities of Newcastle and York and the treasures in between.

If he decides we haven't got what he wants in Middlesbrough, but a site in Darlington or Stockton takes his fancy, then so be it. It's better for the region to benefit than for him to take his money elsewhere.

I sense the public growing increasingly dissatisfied with politicians stuck in a factional timewarp.

Labour governments have helped sweep away the vast majority of class-led injustices of the pre-war years. Meanwhile, Conservatives have signed the death knell for union bullies and restrictive practices that held Britain back.

Those wars have been fought and won and Britain will be forever grateful, but the times are changing. Those in favour of a North-East parliament have to convince the public it is possible to bury the restrictive political dogma of the past and have an assembly focused on building the best possible future for the region as a whole.

Published: 29/04/2004