THE North-East faces being left behind as the Government hands more powers to Scotland and English “metro mayors”, it is feared.

Today’s (Wednesday) Queen’s Speech offered devolution to the Scottish Parliament and directly-elected mayors in England and Wales.

But with the North-East split between two local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and two combined authorities (CAs) and reluctant to accept one regionwide mayor, concern is growing the region will be squeezed out both by its near neighbours and the booming south.

Councillor Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council and head of the North-East CA, said: “We need to establish whether having a directly-elected mayor is a pre-requisite. My personal view is it shouldn’t be.

“If that’s the only game in town, then we need to ask the public whether they’re prepared to accept in return for devolution. I’ve never picked up on any great enthusiasm for an elected mayor.”

The new metro mayors could be responsible for housing, transport, planning and policing – replacing the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).

Greater Manchester is the furthest advanced and will choose a mayor in 2017. But other areas including Yorkshire have lagged behind.

Prime Minister David Cameron recently made James Wharton the minister for the “Northern Powerhouse” and the Stockton South Conservative MP told The Northern Echo he wanted the North-East to get as much out of the economic drive as it could; with the powers to make turning to Westminster at every step unnecessary.

But Cllr Henig said: “For the Northern Powerhouse to work it has to be more than Greater Manchester. We’ve written to James Wharton to request an early meeting.”

There are also concerns extra powers will go to big cities only, with rural areas missing out, and the North-East, which has some of England’s poorest areas, would have the most to lose if the UK exits the European Union – the North-East LEP having been handed 540 million Euros from Brussels in the 2014-20 regional funding round.

The Queen’s Speech contains proposals to give the Scottish Parliament new tax and welfare powers that Mr Cameron said would make it the most powerful devolved assembly anywhere in the world, measures to introduce “English votes for English laws”, giving English MPs the final say on Westminster legislation affecting England only, and - the flagship Bill - to hold a yes/no referendum on staying in the European Union by 2017.