CONSERVATIVE Party leader Michael Howard said he would welcome Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon to the Conservatives after they met during a visit to the North-East yesterday.

They met as Mr Howard visited Middlesbrough as part of his party's campaign for the Euro elections.

After the meeting, Mayor Mallon said he was "more socialist-inclined", but spoke of his admiration for former Home Secretary Mr Howard.

The Tory leader said the respect was mutual. He said: "I remember meeting Ray Mallon in 1997 and I was a great admirer of what he was trying to achieve with the police. If he wanted to serve as a Conservative, I would be delighted."

Mr Howard disappointed opponents of the Barnett Formula, the method by which the Government distributes money across the country. He said the Tories had no plans to review the formula if elected.

Mayor Mallon said Middlesbrough Council had only £160m to spend, when £400m was needed. Mr Howard told him that choosing where the money should go was Mr Mallon's job.

During a visit to Fairbridge, a centre at Ormesby, Middlesbrough, which works to integrate problem youngsters into society, Mr Howard reiterated his party's opposition to a North-East assembly.

He said: "We want power closer to the people. These assemblies will actually take power further away."