NORTH-EAST Conservative MEP Martin Callanan has launched a campaign against a regional assembly for the north.
He says proposals for an elected regional assembly would sound the death-knell for County Durham.
He aims to enlist "an army of supporters" prepared to vote against proposals to replace counties with new tiers of what he called "expensive and ineffective regional government".
He said the new assembly would have only 35 members, each representing up to 75,00 people.
''I believe that housing, transport and planning would be totally ignored,'' he said.
He added that housing estates on greenfield sites would be imposed by a regional assembly contrary to local wishes.
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