Yes Campaign losing the debate by attacking the messenger

Another debate and another audience totally devoid of members of the public. This time, being 20 yards away from the Yes Campaign offices, they got more in the audience to 'win' the debate.
What was interesting, bearing in mind that the North East, we are told, is 'demanding' regional government, there were more people in the pub next door watching the football than were in the Durham City Hall event.

It is apparent that the Yes Campaign are desperate to play on the 'split' in the No Campaign and had plants in the audience in an attempt to create division.

As we have said, it is about both campaigns saying No together now and it is because NESNO's message seems to be hitting the Yes campaign hard that they are desperate to go over historic conflict.

It was very difficult for them to see the two No Campaigns standing together winning the argument.

Debate overshadowed
Oct 20 2004
By Ross Smith, The Journal
Read here

Ugly personal attacks continued to overshadow the assembly debate last night as 'yes' campaigners exposed divisions in the 'no' camp at The Journal's latest debate.
Neil Herron and John Elliott of the No Campaign and Tom Baker.

With North East Says No chairman John Elliott sharing a platform with North East No Campaign director Neil Herron, the pro-assembly lobby seized on the chance to revive their conflict over who should be the official campaign.

Despite recent efforts to present a united front, Mr Herron admitted that he believes Nesno to be "effectively a Conservative construct". And he joked: "It's fantastic that I'm the `yes' campaign's best weapon as well."
The debate, held in Durham, the city most likely to house an assembly, was littered with jibes aimed at the `no' camp.

They came despite the audience asking both campaigns to focus on the real issues, after the first week of polling began with pictures of a rat chasing an inflatable elephant.

Sunderland charity boss and `yes' advocate Paul Brannen said: "I've got a lot of respect for Neil Herron. For several years he's been running, with some support, a `no' campaign. In the last few weeks, people have come from outside the region and hijacked the `no' campaign.
"It's the Tory Party who have taken over the `yes' campaign. It's not me saying that, it's Neil Herron himself."
GMB regional organiser Julie Elliott said: "There's no need for people from outside the region to be involved in the campaign."
But Mr Elliott hit back, saying: "We've got a press officer who comes from outside the region. Is that a crime?
"Let's deal with the issues, not the individuals."
And Mr Herron said: "They have to resort to attacking the messenger."
The `no' campaign was also accused by one questioner of being motivated by self-interest - an accusation first levelled by ex-Labour Euro-MP Alan Donnelly last month.
Questioners challenged the panel on transport powers, whether a new building would be necessary, and potential job losses as a result of local government reform - dismissed as "scaremongering" by Ms Elliott.
Mr Brannen claimed: "All the behind-the-scenes messages from Government are `do a good job, and there will be more power'."
And he expressed his preference for the assembly offices to be housed in the Rivergreen development at Aykley Heads - planned as the most environmentally-friendly office block in the North-East.

Mr Herron insisted a string of questions on the costs, powers and impact of local government re-structuring remain unanswered.
But Ms Elliott said: "The `no' campaign admit the status quo is not working, but offer no solutions on how to address the issue."

A vote at the start of the night put the 'yes' campaign 50-31 ahead. And though both attracted a few people who were undecided, the net result was largely unchanged at the end of the debate, with a 53-35 split in favour of creating an assembly.
The next Journal regional assembly debate is at Alnwick Playhouse on Tuesday.