Mr Herron says rural areas will miss out under a regional assembly

Voters in the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber will be told if they are to get referendums on whether they want regional assemblies by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on Monday.

Campaigners for the assemblies say it is "high time" to hold the votes.

But Neil Herron, of North East Against Regional Assemblies, said: "There's no real information being given out, just spin, propaganda and rhetoric."

Mr Herron, a grocer from Sunderland, who was convicted for refusing to sell produce in metric measurements, added: "The government is trying to create the emotive regional rule idea because they have realised there's no grassroots support for this.

"Ask anyone in the street how they feel about a regional assembly and they will say `What?'. There's total apathy about it.

"It's a complete dog's breakfast. It won't have control over things that are important to people like health and transport and they don't even know where it would be based and how many would be running it."

Assemblies will further remove local people from decision-making and this government is facing a major backlash from its Labour heartlands Neil Herron, North East Against Regional Assemblies

Mr Herron believes that regional assemblies are doomed to failure, regardless of any referendums.

He added: "Nick Raynsford has said that if there is a derisory turnout they would not go ahead with the plans.

"He did not put a figure on that, but I would think if you are making huge constitutional changes you need at least 50% and I don't think you'll even get 25%."

Mr Herron said one of the greatest concerns surrounding regional assemblies was the potential abolition of various council tiers across the region.

He said: "Assemblies will further remove local people from the decision-making and this government is facing a major backlash from its Labour heartlands.

Potential questions

"Regional assemblies would mean less local influence as either district or county councils are abolished to form one single unitary authority.

"There are 2.5 million people in the North East and figures suggest there could be 35 members on an assembly.

"Councillors currently represent people at the closest level, which is at the heart of their communities."

Don Price, a spokesman for the Newcastle-based Campaign for the English Regions, said: "The announcement we expect is excellent news for all English regions, but especially for the northern regions.

"It means that, finally, the English regions can start taking responsibility for their own futures and closing the massive gaps in income and productivity.

"It's a good day for the English people and it's a good day for democracy."

Joyce Quin, Labour MP for Gateshead East and Washington West, said: "It's very important for our region, given its distance from London. It's a strong voice for the region in a way that we haven't had before.

"It's also important doing things particularly in economic development where the assembly will have a responsibility and it will have power to make things happen.

"It will be able to boost the region's economy, help to attract businesses to the region and help existing businesses to expand and prosper.

"It will really be a force in bringing North East solutions to North East problems."