Prescott backs power to people

He told representatives from across the region at St William's College, York, yesterday that a "yes" vote in next autumn's referendum would see the regional assembly becoming a reality early in the next parliament.

The Yorkshire assembly would get an annual budget of £570 million and control over a further £1.1 billion, which is currently spent by government quangos.

He said: "I like to call it the Great North Vote. We are not going to decide it. You make the decision.

"I'm looking forward to taking part in the debate in all three northern regions over the coming year as part of our campaign."

He said he believed the assembly would give the North of England more say over issues such as jobs, business, housing and tourism.

"If the three northern regions get together that is one hell of a voice," he said.

He said the regional assembly would make it easier for the area to cope with disasters like the Selby Rail Crash as the assembly would have responsibility for Fire and Rescue.

"At the moment Fire and Police cannot operate outside their local authority region. Equipment has to be placed at a regional level."

Mr Prescott was joined by three other government ministers: Minister for Local and Regional Government Nick Raynsford; Regeneration Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper; and Health Minister Rosie Winterton.

He launched a leaflet and a "Your Say Yorkshire & the Humber" website to explain what a regional assembly would mean to the area.

York MP Hugh Bayley said: "It is great that the Deputy Prime Minister has chosen York to launch the information campaign about the Yorkshire Assembly.

"If the people vote yes to a Yorkshire Assembly there could be no better place to base it than in York - the county's historic capital."

Last night, the Deputy Prime Minister hinted that York could be among the front-runners as the headquarters for the regional assembly.

He said the city's historic links and "ease of accessibility" would be a major consideration, but stressed that first "the people would decide" whether the directly-elected assembly went ahead.

Mr Prescott referred to the prospect of northern mini-parliaments linking up to force a fairer funding deal out of Whitehall and said they could use their

"hell of a clout" to copy the Scots and Welsh in securing extra cash.

However, he stopped short of saying that Yorkshire was currently underfunded and warned that central government would not give up overall control of how cash was

allocated unless there were "powerful political forces for it".

Earlier in the day Mr Prescott visited York Theatre Royal to support the goodeveningyork website launched by the York Tourism Bureau. The new website brings together information on all York's evening activities including bars, restaurants, walking tours and late-night shopping.

Mr Prescott welcomed the website, saying: "York is one of our jewel cities. It is for the benefit not only for York, but for the region."

'I know you John, but many people don't'

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott made a surprise appearance on a TV news report after he overheard a reporter talking about him.

York-based reporter for Yorkshire TV, Jon Hill, 38, was recording an item on Mr Prescott's visit to York to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the forthcoming referendums on regional assemblies.

As Mr Hill wound up his comments, the Deputy Prime Minister emerged from York's Theatre Royal, walked behind him and appeared to be heading off to his next engagement when he suddenly turned on his heel and challenged the reporter.

"I was just saying that the omens were bad for Mr Prescott raising the profile of the referendums when an opinion poll had found that a third of voters didn't even know who he was," Mr Hill said.

"Suddenly, he walked into my shot and was talking to me. I was quite taken aback."

A laughing Mr Prescott, who appeared to have only half-heard what Mr Hill was saying, asked: "Did you say a third don't know me?".

Mr Hill confirmed the details of the poll, and reassured him: "I know you, John. A third of people don't know who the Deputy Prime Minister is."

Mr Prescott seemed pleased with the result: "Did you say a third? Does that mean two-thirds do? That's quite a record, isn't it?

"Instead of saying two-thirds recognise the Deputy Prime Minister, you say one-third don't. I'll settle for that, and I'm looking forward to meeting the other third."

He added: "I'm not into any ego race."

Mr Hill said: "He was very jovial and good-natured and we ended the piece shaking hands and grinning into the camera, but I was taken aback."

Recalling Mr Prescott's famous encounter with a protester who threw an egg at him during the 2001 election campaign, Mr Hill joked: "At least he didn't thump me."

The survey for Whitaker's Almanack found that 47 per cent of those quizzed could name Mr Prescott as Deputy Prime Minister, but 31 per cent said they had no idea who held the post and 16 per cent guessed a different name.

Updated: 10:43 Tuesday, November 04, 2003