Prime Minister Tony Blair has backed the Evening Star's fight against regional government for Eastern England.

During a whistle-stop tour around Suffolk and Norfolk, Mr Blair told the Ipswich paper that if people didn't want a directly-elected assembly based in Cambridge, they wouldn't have one.

He told the Evening Star: "We're not going to force anyone into having regional government against their will. Nothing will be done without the consent of the people.

"The message from us is clear: If you don't want it, don't have it."

Last month Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced Government plans to devolve powers to the regions.

But the Evening Star has sent a stark message to Mr Blair, adamant that regional government is not needed in East Anglia.