THE region needs a ‘council of the North’ to give it a voice and powers to match London and Scotland, according to a report by think-tank IPPR North.

It said productivity was poorer in the North because it lacked strategic Government and also referred to "weak regional institutions" without the powers to make big decisions.

IPPR North proposed the new council should be made up of the North’s 19 combined authorities and counties to help the North speak with a single voice and make decisions on issues such as trade and economic development.

But rather than effectively creating a parliament or assembly with new politicians, it said the council would be overseen by a ‘citizens assembly’ consisting of ordinary Northerners who would scrutinise plans and set future agendas.

It said plans to put the new Transport for North body on a more formal footing, along with a new wave of ‘Metro Mayors’ made the North ideally placed to deliver inclusive prosperity.

The think-tank said the Government’s Northern Powerhouse project had been welcome, but it was no substitute for proper government and a “genuine” Northern Powerhouse must operate at scale and encompass all of the North’s 15 million people.

Ed Cox, the author of the report and director of IPPR North, said: “As we leave the EU, city and county leaders will find themselves very small fish in a big global pond if they opt to go it alone.

"But working together, the North’s £300bn economy carries real clout.”