CRITICS of a directly elected regional assembly have stepped up their campaign by outlining their arguments on a new website.
The site, set up by Stan Smith, from South Shields, South Tyneside, said an assembly would not bring extra funding to the North-East and would make Government more remote, with some smaller councils being abolished.
Mr Smith said it would also cause conflict and jealousy between existing local councils, MPs and regional assembly members.
He said: "A regional assembly will be an expensive talking shop run by mediocre politicians, which will cost the taxpayer more than £25m a year."
Both sides in the debate have been publicising their views ahead of an expected referendum in October.
Last month, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott visited the region to outline the case for an elected assembly to business leaders.
l The website is at www.smithq.pwp.blueyon der.co.uk
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