Will Mallon rise to a real challenge?

Press Release
North East No Campaign
27th October 2004

"People's No Campaign throws down the Gauntlet to Ray Mallon"

Mayor of Middlesbrough is frightened of real debate and has a minimal understanding of what is on offer with an elected regional assembly. His lack of understanding is apparent by his repeated attacks on the official NESNO campaign in Durham and failure to address any of the difficult questions.

Attacking the messenger in an aggressive bully boy fashion is turning the public against him and the fact that he has not read the Bill is an admission that he cares not what the people of the North East are actually being offered, but more about what HE THINKS they are being offered.

His attempt at branding the NESNO operation is a sign of weakness. To attempt to brand the No Campaign as all being Tories is an insult to everyone who has legitimate concerns about what is actually being offered by this political con trick. To polarise the debate into Labour versus Tory as Prescott is also doing smacks of absolute desperation.

So here we throw down the gauntlet..." Come to Sunderland Mr. Mallon, or we''ll meet you on neutral turf, and try and throw the same accusations around here. We at the other No Campaign have offered you the 'No' perspective before you joined the Yes bandwagon.
You chose not to respond.
We gave you the evidence of how the unelected Assembly was misusing public money (including that of Middlesbrough ratepayers) to campaign for a Yes vote...you chose not to respond.
Come to Sunderland Mr. Mallon and we will shatter every single one of your arguments with FACTS...and without a Tory in sight. Let the public see strong your arguments are then.
This is about the people of the North East, not about party politics.
This is about the people of the North East and not about people who wish to stand for something that the people of the North East never even asked for.
This is about the people of the North East who want facts not emotional rhetoric.
Ray Mallon, you may be the best 'crime fighter' but your understanding of this issue and your arguments leave a lot to be desired.
Come and see us. We will look forward to it."

...and we will buy the coffee!

ends

Neil Herron
Campaign Director
North East No Campaign
Frederick Street
Sunderland
Tel. 0191 565 7143
Mob. 07776 202045
http://www.northeastnocampaign.co.uk/

cc. North East Press and Media

NB. The original press release had a deliberate typo error in just to see if Mr. Mallon reads any of the small print ;-)