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There is an inherent difficulty in proposing new political institutions in an atmosphere in which citizens are deeply sceptical about politics itself. Regionalists need to be wary about proposing solutions that look similar to the structures that the population is currently rejecting. '' Humphrey and Tomaney (2001, page 4) Devolution and democratic renewal in the United Kingdom Since 1997 successive Labour governments have embarked on a programme of constitutional change that has involved the creation of a Scottish Parliament; Assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland; the establishment of the Greater London Authority, together with an elected mayor; and, in the English regions, Regional Development Agencies and Regional Chambers. The publication, in 2002, of the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, placed regional government in England firmly on the political agenda, setting out proposals for the powers, functions, and mechanics of new, elected regional assemblies (Cabinet Office and DTLR, 2002). Unlike devolution in other areas of the United Kingdom, however, elected regional assemblies would be introduced only in those English regions registering`substantial' public support for elected governance. A`soundings exercise' would identify the

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Drawing upon empirical research of governance in the North East of England, this article aims to evaluate the impact of current practices of stakeholder engagement on declared aspirations of both inclusivity and democratic renewal. Using the North East Assembly (NEA) as a case study, it details the experiences and opinion of both 'key' and marginalized stakeholders of the NEA in its role as 'the voice of the region'. Whilst highlighting examples of good practice, its findings identify persistent barriers to the inclusion of the wider civic society in regional decision making. Barriers that require more than mere aspirational terminology or the development of consultative fora if the expertise and voice of this civic society is to be not only encouraged to participate but effectively utilized and represented. It concludes with a proposed model for future engagement that aims to provide a more accountable, flexible and non-hierarchical approach to stakeholder engagement. Whilst located within a distinctively North Eastern context, the issues it attempts to address are equally pertinent to other regions looking to a genuine inclusive polity.

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