THE theme of Baroness Warsi’s address to yesterday’s North-East Economic Forum did not come as any surprise.

It is well known that the Conservatives plan to shift power from central Government and regional bodies to local councils if David Cameron leads his party to victory at the next election.

We agree with parts of the strategy reaffirmed by the Shadow Minister for Communities, particularly the need to free local authorities from much of the stifling bureaucracy that is imposed on them.

But we retain concerns about diminishing the North-East’s regional voice. There has been an improvement in the way councils in the North-East work together – but there remains a long way to go.

Neighbouring authorities will always scrap hard for their slice of the cake – it is what the people they represent expect – but that inevitably creates regional divisions.

When a potential inward investor comes to the North-East to assess opportunities, it needs to hear a united voice, not a host of competing councils banging the drum for their corner of the region.

The North-East overwhelmingly voted “no” to the proposed elected regional assembly. The idea is dead in the water. But we still believe the North-East needs a regional champion to promote the big picture.

Nothing is perfect but, as quangos go, One North East is perceived to be one of the country’s better regional development agencies.

And in striving to be more local, the Conservatives must guard against making it harder for investors to see and hear what the North-East – as a whole – has to offer.