OPPOSITION politicians have spoken out against Deputy Prime Minster John Prescott's visit to the region today, when he will speak to people about the election of a regional assembly.

Mr Prescott could face some tough questions after his speech at the Guildhall, in York, in which he will outline the Government's proposals to create regional assemblies for regions around the country.

He will address a national conference organised by the Campaign for the English Regions, and Mr Prescott is expected to announce how stakeholders and the wider public might be involved in any future elected assembly's work and policy.

But Opposition members have criticised Mr Prescott's visit and called into question the advantages of setting up regional assemblies.

Many feel that regional assemblies would mean local councillors would no longer be in touch with their constituents' views.

The Government has argued that many people would be in favour of regional assemblies, and ministers have begun a tour of regions in the country in a bid to gauge public response to the proposals.

But Robert Goodwill, European Member of Parliament for Yorkshire and Humberside, said many people in North Yorkshire would not be in favour of a regional assembly.

He said: "The Government seems to think that because their is apparent support of the idea in the North-East, that that is the consensus, which I'm afraid it is not.

"John Prescott will hopefully realise that people in the region are against regional assemblies, because it will purely mean that local councillors will be less in touch with their voters, and will therefore be unable to interact with them on a regular basis and deal with their complaints or views.

"The big fear is that those sat on the regional assembly will be completely out of touch with the electorate and will not be in touch with the needs of the man on the street.

"I hope Mr Prescott will be made very aware of that when he visits York to make his speech."

A spokesman for the office of the Deputy Prime Minister said: "Mr Prescott will remind people that they still have a chance to tell the Government whether they want a referendum for an elected assembly in their region by taking part in a public soundings exercise."