Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has called on people to support a Yorkshire 'parliament' as the latest opinion polls showed a majority now want a say on the issue.

Research conducted by consultants for North Yorkshire County Council showed that 59 per cent of people wanted a referendum. And in a poll for a Yorkshire and Humber regional assembly done by RBA Research, 47 per cent of people supported a referendum, only seven per cent opposed one, and 46 per cent said they did not have enough information.

The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly yesterday voted to support a referendum to give people a say on a Yorkshire parliament. The assembly - made up of the region's local authorities, representatives from businesses and other organisations - voted by 19 to seven to back a referendum.

Today Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said: "I want a referendum for the people of Bradford district. I have been a long time supporter of regional governments and I think people should get the opportunity to have a say on this."

But Councillor Simon Cooke, Tory deputy leader of Bradford Council, said: "I don't see what value is going to come out of this. I have to ask the question of what value regional government would add to the quality of public services in this district."

Councillor Cooke said he feared a referendum would mean only 30 per cent of people bothering to vote - and possibly half voting in favour. "You would then have it going ahead with only 15 per cent of people wanting it," he said,

Local politicians spoke out as demonstrators heckled Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott as he was leaving a York conference promoting regional governments. About 25 protesters, dressed up in English flags and carrying banners, shouted abuse at Mr Prescott after he addressed a Campaign For The English Regions Conference at Guild Hall. They booed, yelled "Shame" and shouted "Everything you touch turns to dust" at a grinning Mr Prescott.

Earlier, he had told delegates that the opportunity to give power to assemblies lay in the hands of the electorate but no decisions had been made about where referendums would be held.

Mr Prescott added: "It is up to the people. I hope the people of Yorkshire want regional governments. I come from Yorkshire. I want regional government. There is a growing demand. I think it is right to give people the chance to say whether they want it."

Leader of Bradford Council's Labour Group, Councillor Ian Greenwood, said his group believed people should have the opportunity to choose. Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland also supported a referendum in the district.

Councillor David Ford, leader of the Green Party, said his party was fully behind the campaign for a Yorkshire parliament and had written to the Secretary of State asking him to consider giving people a vote.

George Morran, of the Campaign For The English Regions said despite support for a referendum people were not yet well informed about the Government's proposals for the English Regions. He added ministers had a lot more to do between now and the referendums, expected to be held next year, to turn support for holding a referendum into a "yes" vote for a parliament.