TOP marks to The Northern Echo’s front page headline “Pressing Our Case” (June 3).

I believe we missed a golden opportunity in 2004 to take up the then-Deputy Prime Minister’s lead of embracing a regional assembly.

John Prescott did make some elementary mistakes in the quest for an assembly nine years ago.

What NEvolution must do is make sure the whole of the North-East region is included in this campaign, ie. all points of the North-East compass.

As part of the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership we met Lord Heseltine on the banks of the Tees just recently.

Lord Heseltine is a strong ally for regional-type government and one hopes that he can help us progress to Nevolution. A regional assembly under another name, maybe? A belated step in the right direction, one thinks?

Councillor George Dunning, leader Redcar and Cleveland Council and a member of the Association of North East Councils (ANEC)