ED Miliband today vows to fast-track “fair funding” to the North-East, to try to calm fears about the economic danger of a more-powerful Scotland.

In an exclusive interview with The Northern Echo's parliamentary correspondent Rob Merrick, the Labour leader pledged action “within months” of an election victory, to stop the region’s councils being hit by the hardest cuts.

And he insisted the region – with the greater devolution Labour is planning – would have the muscle to compete with Scotland, which will gain powers whoever wins Thursday’s general election.

Mr Miliband said: “I recognise the circumstances in the North-East. It is definitely not going to lose out if I’m the prime minister.

“The North-East has huge advantages, in green energy for example. Renewable energy is the industry of the future – but it needs a Government committed to a proper industrial policy and we will be that Government.”

However, the interview confirmed Mr Miliband has not strengthened his devolution offer to the North, despite hinting he would after Scotland was promised further powers in the autumn.

There is particular concern over Labour’s U-turn that will give Edinburgh the power to cut air passenger duty (APD), potentially undermining North airports.

Meanwhile, Scotland will keep the Barnett Formula which gives it £733 more per person than the much poorer North-East – a figure that has more than doubled from £361, in 2010-11.

Labour has also dismayed cash-starved local government leaders by pledging a further £500m of savings if it wins power, to keep the nation’s budget deficit falling.

But Mr Miliband said the North-East would be helped by:

* Labour’s £30bn worth of devolution to English city and county regions – which would, unlike the Conservatives, not shut out areas which refused cross-border ‘metro mayors’.

* Fair funding for local councils – because “areas like the North-East have been incredibly badly let down”.

* Action to ensure any cuts to APD in Scotland do not hurt regional airports – although Mr Miliband did match David Cameron’s hint of matching cuts in England.

Instead, he said: “We have got a very important devolution offer to the North-East. We’re not going to choose which areas we give powers and resources to – unlike George Osborne.

“Second, I can promise fair funding. I know how much the North-East has been hit by unfair funding under this Government. We will get a review going within months.

"Third, where there are specific things that will have an impact – like air passenger duty, in terms of Scotland – we are not going to walk on by on the other side.”

However, Mr Miliband was cautious about the funding shake-up, saying: “I’m not, at the moment, going to pluck a figure or a formula out of the air.”

The Labour leader also promised to “get money flowing within months” to tackle long waits to see a GP, a key NHS concern, partly from a ‘mansion tax’ on £2m-plus homes.

And he argued he had a plan a plan to win over opponents and to build the new homes that are badly needed, by giving local people the first chance to buy them.

On the long election campaign, Mr Miliband said: “If I have had the chance to show the real me, rather than the caricature, I really welcome that.

“But it is on behalf of the British people. I’m more interested in how we change the country.”