As more worms leave the tin

Did the BBC know who had been designated as the official 'No' campaign before 9.30 am Tuesday 14th September? They were gravitating more and more to NESNO.

NESNO seemed to know as they had had a phone call from the Electoral Commission on Friday 10th September informing them of the EC Press conference at the Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle at 10.30am on Tuesday 14th September.

North East No Campaign Chairman, Judith Wallace contacted Douglas Stewart, Head of Referendums, on Monday night at 8pm as he was travelling to catch the 9pm Kings Cross train to Newcastle. He said, " Did I not ring you on Friday?"

She was then told that we would be contacted at 9.30am the following morning to let us know whether we had been designated. We received the phone call at 9.43am. Hardly enough time should the indication have been positive. NESNO were already on the way to the venue.

We received official confirmation of the decision two days later by post, from Electoral Commission Chairman, Sam Younger. No reasons were given.

Alarm bells started to ring when the NESNO campaign failed to attend the Select Committee hearing in the House of Commons on 15th September. To read the Journal report click here.

Despite the fact that NESNO was not accessible via any search engines, had little presence on the BBC and Journal sites, they were the campaign that the Select Committee had chosen to attend the presentation on 15th September. Alarm bells ring because the Agenda for the hearing was produced on 9th September with NESNO and Yes4theNorthEast as the Yes and No Campaigns. This was FIVE DAYS before the Electoral Commission decision. Click here to see the damning evidence.

What must be borne in mind is that the North East No Campaign had represented the No perspective on platforms with Prescott, Raynsford and GONE and with the Yes Campaign for over two years with NESNO not anywhere in sight. Remarkable that the Select Committee found them and put them on the agenda. The North East No Campaign was not contacted. Even two days after 'designation' the Electoral Commission were still giving out OUR telephone number as the 'No' campaign. We were even contacted by the Royal Mail to arrange distribution of the No Campaign's free mailshot. We passed on the number for North East Says No.

Had the decision already been made days before actual designation? If so, by whom? The Electoral Commission's Commissioners details will follow shortly.

You can then start asking the questions.