The North Yorkshire MP and former Tory leader William Hague has criticised plans which could see Yorkshire having its own elected assembly.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hague urged ministers to think again.

He claimed that in North Yorkshire there was no lack of democracy.

"We have local democratic institutions - our county council, our district councils," he said.

In North Yorkshire they are being asked to elect a set of people in Leeds. Many of them are not going to vote

William Hague

"Why should we suddenly have government more remote?"

The Richmond MP said: "If we vote in North Yorkshire not to be part of a Yorkshire regional assembly then we shouldn't have to be part of it."

Mr Hague mocked 30 years of local government reorganisation, saying he was not sure that if urban district councils and the Ridings of Yorkshire were still in existence people would be any worse off.

"Why on earth are we contemplating another great reorganisation with regional assemblies?

"People are already sick of elections in this country.

"In North Yorkshire they are being asked to elect a set of people in Leeds. Many of them are not going to vote.

"Many of them are going to regard it as a joke."