EIGHT years ago The Northern Echo was the only North-East newspaper to support proposals for a regional government.

Despite reservations -– and there were many – we felt the potential of one voice for the North-East was something that could not be ignored.

The regional did not agree. It voted overwhelmingly against the idea.

In 2004, the Tees Valley voted no to regional government because it did not want to be ruled by Newcastle.

Today it will get the chance to have a greater say in its own destiny.

As a concept, city deals with their promise of devolved powers on planning, spending and job creation, are closer in spirit to the recently abolished regional development agencies than regional government.

To succeed, the Tees Valley will have to show that it can speak with one voice – there must be no squabbling.

Successful city regions need strong leaders who are able to speak for everyone.

Thankfully, the fine work undertaken by the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership has shown this to be possible.

The Government, for its part, must be true to its word to cut through red tape and hand over real power to the cities.

Technically Britain may be out of recession, but there is still much work to be done for a sustainable recovery – particularly in regions beyond the South-East.

Giving the Tees Valley extra powers to manage its own affairs will be a good start.