CAMPAIGNERS pushing for devolution for the North-East say a proposed English parliament would not benefit the region.

The English Democratic Party is to be launched in London today. Their campaign for an English parliament would have implications for the North-East.

But members of the Campaign for a North-East Assembly (C N A) remain unimpressed.

Spokesman Brian Hall said: "It's significant that it is being launched in London for a start. An English parliament would represent 45 million people and this would not give us a significant voice in the UK.

"We want the North-East to have a strong voice, that would be able to articulate the future potential of this region. An English parliament would just clobber that completely."