Sir John Hall despondent in Hexham.

In the Journal sponsored debate in Hexham Sir John Hall and opera singer, SuzannahClarke were walloped by two Conservative speakers from NESNO's campaign. The result went 2 : 1 to the No's.
The White Elephant provided an amusing backdrop in the rain outside and NESNO is growing to the campaign and getting its act together.

Sir John Hall called for more Independents to stand, but didn't quite make clear who will pay for all their expenses. He doesn't want the assembly to be dominated by politicians! Perhaps the Spanish sunshine has gone to his head ;-) or perhaps he sees great opportunities for property developers as well as 'new non-politician politicians.' The last platform I spoke on with Sir John he said that rules could be bent if we didn't like them after I said an assembly could not set aside any EU regulations or ignore Parliamentary legislation. Wonder if he would risk a conviction to bend the rules?

Suzannah Clarke said that the Scottish Parliament had been held accountable for the extraordinary cost debacle and £400m overspend over the new building, and people would not allow the same to happen in the North East.
"Who has been sacked?" came the cries from the audience.
She struggled once the derisory laughter died down.

To read the Journal report click here. It is also copied below.

Hall wants a united front
Oct 14 2004
By Ross Smith, The Journal

Former Newcastle United chairman Sir John Hall last night revealed he wants an army of 10 independent candidates to keep a regional assembly out of party hands.

Speaking at The Journal's regional assembly debate in Hexham, Sir John admitted he feared politicians from the region's town halls would fill a devolved assembly.
He gave his strongest statement yet confirming he will stand as an independent, and called on other non-party candidates to step forward.
The property tycoon said: "I've got two at the moment, but I want 10.
"I'm concerned they're going to reinvent themselves, the old politicians. If they're going to put the old people forward - no way. They're not doing the right thing for this region."

His comments came during the event at the Queen's Hall in Hexham, the second of four debates around the region being staged by The Journal.

A crowd of 150 put advocates of both a `yes' and `no' vote on the spot over issues including the cost of an assembly, its impact on rural affairs and the effect of scrapping a tier of local government in Northumberland.

A poll at the end of the night showed a 91-53 split in favour of a `no' vote, with six undecided. But that was an improvement for the pro-assembly lobby from a vote before the debate, when it was 92-41 behind.

And privately, the `yes' campaign was pleased with the result in an area expected to be one of its weakest in the referendum.

But the `no' side slated pro-devolutionists for not putting forward a speaker from rural Northumberland in the debate. Sir John was joined on the platform by Teesside opera singer Suzannah Clarke. Miles Middleton, chairman of the North East Rural Affairs Forum, claimed: "Do you think they couldn't put up one person from this area, from the rural North-East? This whole movement is urban based."
Mr Middleton was joined on the `no' platform by local county councillor Maureen Milne at the event, which was chaired by former BBC North-East political correspondent Tony Baker.
Opponents of the assembly raised fears of higher council taxes when it is given the freedom to set its own precept.
But Sir John countered: "What we have to be is prudent, but we're going to have to spend money."

Both sides agreed the vote is likely to be a one-off chance to secure devolution.
Ms Clarke said: "Obviously some people are worried about what will happen under a regional assembly, but this is a once in a lifetime chance."
Mr Middleton retorted: "I too don't think we'll get a second chance and I'm quite pleased about that when I think what the first chance is costing us."
But Sir John told `no' campaigners: "You haven't addressed the problems of this region. When you do that and come back with a solution, we'll listen to you