A GOVERNMENT minister yesterday called on the people of the region to pull together for home rule.

David Miliband, Minister for Schools, spoke to some of the region's most powerful council leaders and business figures at the annual meeting of the North East Assembly group, at Lumley Castle, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

The South Shields Labour MP argued that a regional assembly would give the North-East more influence, but only if parts of the region "put aside local jealousy and enmity".

It is expected that the people of County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Cleveland and Northumberland will have chance to vote for their own assembly within four years.

A Government White Paper outlining what form a mini-parliament might take was published earlier this year.

Leading lights in the Government and the North East Assembly say they would organise a "yes" campaign in a referendum.

A group has not yet been formed to campaign against the assembly, but it has been argued that some decisions would move Government further away from rural voters and be biased towards the north of the region.

Mr Miliband said the assembly would not disadvantage any geographical area or group.

He said: "We have to be thinking about how to help each other, not blame each other.

"It means recognising that a City of Culture in Newcastle and Gateshead will be good for Sunderland; new business in Durham can be good for Middlesbrough; even that the regeneration of Jarrow can be good for South Shields."

Mr Miliband, who was recently appointed as a minister, addressed other arguments against the assembly, which include that it would cost too much money, add another unecessary tier of government, undermine local councils, not have enough power and simply be a talking shop.

He said: "Regional government can democratise regional decision-making, bring some decisions closer to the people, give local people their own regional political voice and mean more clout for the North-East."

No decision has been made as to where the assembly would be based, but Newcastle, Durham City and Teesside have all been suggested for its headquarters.