Designation Farce Continues.Another 'foot in mouth' outbreak.

The Designation farce continues in the North East. NESNO, the campaign that no-one can find except five Electoral Commissioners, is providing two speakers for a debate organised by the Newcastle Journal. The Bridge Club have been tasked with the logistics and organisation for the event, but it appears they are also having trouble finding NESNO.

The Bridge Club are not to blame and it is becoming increasingly frustrating for all seeking information and access to a campaign that has a public profile on a par with Lord Lucan.

Even a blind man with a glass eye and an eye patch could see there is a rabbit away (though before long there may be plenty of foxes out there on the chase).

The e-mail below is to Tom Patterson of the Journal and copied to Ross Forbes of the Yes4theNorthEast Campaign and Philip Cummings of North East Says No...except they have our (North East No Campaign) e-mail address. It appears as though the Chief Executive of NESNO doesn't have one.

The Bridge Club and the Journal join the following in making the same mistake:-
The Electoral Commission, The House of Commons Library, Durham County Council, the ODPM, the Conservative Party, the BBC to name but a few.

Even if you track NESNO down on the internet there is no e-mail address on their website.

Perhaps one day the penny will drop for some in the NorthEast press and media that a monumental stitch up has taken place.
It seems like the people and the rest of the country are aware.

I will remind you of what the Electoral Commission said. "NESNO appeared to best represent the No outcome."

And Prescott was quoted in today's Journal as saying, " It's not just Yes or No - its Labour versus Tory."

I am sure Conservative Donor, John Elliott and North East Conservative spokesman, Graham, Robb will put on a good show for NESNO and will do a fantastic job of pretending they have not falling into John Prescott's elephant trap.

Our only hope is that the momentum the People's No Campaign continues to create will make up for the polarisation of the debate into a party political one.

Dear Tom,
Having spoken to Phil and Chris yesterday I just wanted to send you a short email of clarification.

I’m going to be contacting all the speakers on both sides and in chronological order before the debates, just to say hello!
I’ve also stressed to Ross/Chris and Phil the importance of the two minute timed session, so that they can brief their speakers.

On that, I wonder if some confusion has set in? To my mind it makes sense that the timed session is the last thing that happens at each of the debates (ie it’s not followed by more questions). This would mean that attendees all vote when they arrive and then again at the end after a concluding timed session! Please can we confirm that this is what is going to happen?

Hope all’s well with all!
Cx

Caroline Theobald
Director
The Bridge Club Ltd