SAFEGUARDS to prevent East Lancashire being dominated by Manchester and Liverpool in a North-West Regional Assembly are proposed today by an influential political think-tank.

The need for such defences are spelled out by the Constitutional Unit which has been studying the case for creating devolved mini-parliaments across the country.

In a wide-ranging report the "think-tank" supports the idea in principle and says despite Tory claims there is backing for regional assemblies in the North-West and North-East of England.

But the report warns that it could go badly wrong unless it is properly organised with appropriate safeguards.

It says such regional assemblies are a vital and logical part of the constitutional reforms - including Scottish and Welsh Parliaments - proposed by Labour.

The report backs Blackburn MP and Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw's strategy of phasing them in, beginning with those areas where they have the strongest support.

Its conclusions emerged just 24 hours before the Prime Minister was due to unleash a blistering assault against constitutional reform, and in particular moves for regional assemblies. Mr Major regards such changes not only as unnecessary, but highly dangerous to the future of the United Kingdom and intends the issue to be a key part of the Tories' general election battle-plans.

Today though the Constitutional Unit predicted regional devolution was almost inevitable if Labour wins the next election - and suggested the North-West could be one of the first parts of England to be involved.

For it believes the North-West backs the idea of a regional assembly or chamber far more enthusiastically than areas such as the South East or Midlands.

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