CAMPAIGNING is already under way for York to be picked as the home of the proposed "mini-parliament" for Yorkshire and Humberside.

The city's MP, Hugh Bayley, is urging his Westminster colleagues to back the city's case as the historic capital of the region.

He also believes York would be the least controversial choice - as it does not share the rivalry which exists between the region's big cities.

The Labour MP spoke out as Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said that a referendum on establishing a regional assembly would take place as soon as possible, probably in autumn next year.

A "Yes" vote would clear the way for elections to the assemblies in spring 2006 or 2007.

Mr Bayley said: "I will now be pressing the case for York - as the historic capital - as the place where the assembly is based.

"Broadly speaking, it is in the ideal geographical location for travelling between Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Doncaster and Hull.

"Also, the rivalries between these places would make it difficult to argue for the benefits of one against the other." Mr Bayley also turned his fire on Tories who attacked the referendum - pointing out it was right for voters to have their say.

He said the Tories had created City of York Council without any public consultation in the early 1990s, despite fierce local opposition to the proposed boundaries.

But Conservative MPs in Yorkshire were furious with Mr Prescott - claiming North Yorkshire could be bullied into the creation of the regional assembly.

York-born MP David Davies, Mr Prescott's opposite number, said the plans could be forced through by voters in metropolitan areas even if there was overwhelming opposition in the county.

North Yorkshire is the only part of the region which faces a shake-up in local government - with either the county council or some district councils facing the axe to make way for the assembly.

Mr Prescott's own consultation exercise found interest in holding a referendum was lowest in North Yorkshire at about 65 per cent.

In South Yorkshire, 80 per cent of those who responded were in favour of a vote.

Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh said: "The population of North Yorkshire accounts for 11 per cent of the total region of Yorkshire and the Humber. In the event that the people of North Yorkshire vote to keep the county council and the district, and against a regional parliament, will their views as expressed in the referendum be respected?"

Mr Prescott said the vote would be determined on a regional basis only.

But he pointed out one of the organisations that had backed a referendum was North Yorkshire County Council.

"We are offering the people an historic opportunity. An opportunity we offered the people of Scotland, Wales and London before them. An opportunity for the northern regions to choose how they are governed."

Updated: 10:23 Tuesday, June 17, 2003