It was a racing certainty from day one

Unlike Mr. Frayne of NESNO, we always knew the result was going to be a 'No' and an emphatic one at that. It is because we had spent over two years on the campaign trail and speaking to the people on every level that we were so confident.
We exposed the BBC Poll...72% in favour.
We exposed the Journal poll and we exposed the Yes Campaign poll.
There was no shift in public opinion from 2:1 in favour. That was a manipulation by the press and pollsters and people wishing to buy into a dream...a one that everyone would have bought into. A great North East...more jobs and prosperity.Problem was that we don't vote for dreams and that wasn't on offer.
If Mr. Frayne and NESNO hadn't been such late arrivals to the campaign then they would also have understood that the people would never fallen for what was on offer.
By the way, no-one else placed a bet.

'No' men say yes to £1,361.54
Nov 12 2004
By Ross Smith, The Journal
View online here

If anti-regional assembly campaigner Neil Herron wants to thank the people who helped him beat the bookies, he needs to share his winnings 696,519 ways.

North East No campaign leader Mr Herron and strategy director Colin Moran staked £2,000 on a "No" vote in last week's assembly poll.
And after North-East voters overwhelmingly turned it down - with 696,519 saying "No" - they walked out of a Ladbrokes shop in Sunderland yesterday with a £1,361.54 profit.
They were able to stake their first £600 at odds of 5/6, but Ladbrokes shortened them to 8/13 for the rest of the wager.
And though they had walked in prepared to lay £18,000 on the counter, the £2,000 limit was agreed.
Mr Moran joked: "Had Ladbrokes been prepared to really take us on, we might own them by now.
"But when the trainer and the jockey are ready to put such big money on a horse, you can't blame them for starting to get worried. Now and again a bet comes along that's an absolute stonewall certainty.
"We knew beyond any doubt that this was one of them, because we campaigned on behalf of the people and we were always in touch with the people."
The pair have pledged to give some of the money to Stepney Bank Stables in Newcastle, which helped with a photo stunt for their campaign and to the Grace House Children's Hospice Appeal in Sunderland.
The rest will go on a few celebration drinks for their supporters - but they said that would not include members of the North East Says No campaign, which was given official status by the Electoral Commission ahead of Mr Herron's "North East No" organisation amid a storm of controversy.
"It's very disappointing that they haven't acknowledged the work we did," said Mr Moran.
"We're still going now to keep the pressure up on the unelected assembly.
"That body has no support and no legitimacy."