Referendum to go ahead as planned

Campaigners are crossing swords over the new report

The referendum on a North East regional assembly will go ahead as planned, Local Government and Regions Minister Nick Raynsford has told MPs.

Mr Raynsford said the vote would take place on 4 November, with all votes cast by post, despite Electoral Commission criticism of the system.

He said the form and timing of votes in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber had yet to be decided.

The Tories said the planned North East vote should also be re-thought.

Last month the Electoral Commission, in a report on the success of post-only voting pilots earlier this year, highlighted a number of concerns.

The watchdog said there should be an end to postal voting nationwide because voters want a choice about how they cast their ballot.

But commission chairman Sam Younger said changing the system for the North East referendum at such a late stage risked creating uncertainty and other problems.

Postal voting papers are due to be sent out around 18 October, with voting closing on 4 November and the results expected the next day.

Mr Raynsford insisted the government was "absolutely committed" to the referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber going ahead.

He said that "over the coming months" the government wanted to consider "more deeply" about the form and timing of the two referendums after the Electoral Commission's report.