Assemblies will decentralise power, strengthen democracy and give people a greater say and their own political voice

John Prescott

And the Liberal Democrats say the assemblies will be pointless unless they are given fully devolved powers.

Shadow local government secretary Theresa May said that rather than giving more power to communities, the assemblies would take it away.

They would be "an expensive bureaucracy and an extra tier of government".

"What people want is politicians who are in touch and respond to the issues that matter - not another tier of government or a new type of politician," she said.

'Democratic deficit'

Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Adrian Sanders said: "The Labour government can make countless promises about regional assemblies, but unless they are genuinely willing to devolve power, these promises are simply empty words."

Mr Prescott said it was his long-held political dream to end what he called the "democratic deficit" in the country.

The plans are seen as a way of tackling voter apathy in the wake of another low turnout in the local elections.

The White Paper being published on Thursday will offer each region a referendum on elected regional assemblies, similar to devolution in Scotland and Wales.

Assemblies are Precott's 'political dream'

In a speech to Chancellor Gordon Brown's constituency dinner in Scotland on Friday, Mr Prescott said: "The choice of regional government for England in my view completes the circle.

"It will bring the whole devolution agenda together - putting in place the last piece of the framework for a new constitutional settlement for the whole of the UK.

"What we are offering the English regions is different from Scotland and that's as it should be.

"But the guiding principles and the objectives are the same as they were for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - to decentralise power, strengthen democracy and give people a greater say and their own political voice.

"This will be the conclusion of a political dream I have held for decades."