Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is apparently encouraged that, according to new research, a majority of people support the idea of a referendum on the idea of a regional assembly for Yorkshire and Humber.

However, he should perhaps consider that although 59 per cent of those asked said they favoured a referendum there's no guarantee that that number would actually turn out to vote in one. The view of Councillor Simon Cooke, deputy leader of Bradford Council, surely is a more realistic one.

There is every likelihood that, as he suggests, the poll would be a low one so that even if a majority of those who voted favoured a regional assembly they would still be only a small minority of the actual population. Given the poor turnout for local and even national elections, it is likely to be very hard to engage people in deciding whether or not they want another layer of government in between the two.

While it is tempting to think that such a body could help to boost regional identity, on balance it is a bad idea. It could either turn out to be a costly talking shop, or by trying to justify its existence it could end up interfering in matters that its members, because of lack of local knowledge, are poorly equipped to pass judgement on. Either way, it is hardly likely to improve the speed and quality of decision-making.

Far better to avoid the waste of time and money a referendum would involve and instead bolster the system of local government we already have while pursuing regional interests through an organisation like Yorkshire Forward which, in itself, could be made more accountable.