Prescott accused over regional rule

The government denies Prescott has made the decision

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has already made a decision on referendums for assemblies in the North West and North East, reports from Westminster suggest.

The news comes as more details about devolved rule were due to emerge in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday.

Mr Prescott has reportedly decided the public will vote in 2004 on whether the north-west and north-east assemblies should become "mini parliaments", according to the BBC's North West political editor Jim Hancock.

Conservative MPs opposed to the devolvement say if the reports are true it makes "a mockery of the consultation process".

'Gerrymandering example'

Tory councillor Les Byrom, of the North West Assembly, said he disputed whether the reports were true.

"But if Prescott has come out and said this, you've got a secretary of state who's supposed to be independent and make the decision within the legislation," he said.

"And yet if he's pre-judged the situation, this is just another example of the gerrymandering about this regional devolution."

The government has denied Mr Prescott has taken the decision.