IT is time the seven million people in the North West of England secured direct control over the matters which most affect our region and our region alone.

If I was not convinced of this before, I certainly am now, having just paid a visit to the new Scottish Parliament.

With only five million residents, Scotland is a junior relation to the North West, but the creation of the parliament has given a huge boost to its self confidence. Scotland now runs all its own domestic affairs and Edinburgh is increasingly seen as a European capital and place of influence.

The Scots may not like politicians any more than anyone else, but they have made it clear that they will no longer stand for decisions which affect them alone, being taken in London.

Sadly, the same cannot yet be said for our region. While the Prime Minister tells us there is no North-South divide, his Chancellor allows economic policies to be shaped by inflated house prices in the South East, and his Trade Secretary passes a death sentence on the North West's internationally renowned research laboratory at Daresbury. Meanwhile, the acres of news coverage devoted to London and its new Mayor have shown the priorities of the national newspapers. They treat us with contempt, often employing just one or two journalists to cover the entire North of England.

There are many people across the political divide who want change. With the British government increasingly looking upwards and playing a key role in shaping decisions which affect the whole of Europe, it is time for control over regional matters to be passed downwards from Whitehall.

Representatives of local councils, business, trade unions, churches, and many other groups, are working in a North West Constitutional Convention to reach a consensus about the way forwards. If all goes well, which is by no means certain, it is due to publicise its proposals in the autumn. But we should not wait until then.

I say it is time that the North West stood proud alongside the other great regions of Europe, all of which now have their own devolved governments and greater influence as a result. The debate about the future of the Noth West should start now.

CHRIS DAVIES MEP, Liberal Democrat, North West of England.