AT a time when the North-South divide seems as wide as ever, the notion of Yorkshire home rule sounds appealing.

Certainly Austin Mitchell MP made a strong case for a regional assembly at a conference in York. He wants to see "a Yorkshire that controls its own destiny", an idea that will go down well with fiercely independent Yorkshire folk.

What no one wants is another level of bureaucracy, an elevated talking shop.

Any Yorkshire-wide government would need to have at least the equivalent powers as the Welsh assembly if it is to be taken seriously by voters.