Northern Echo Round-up

We must unite to fight for a fair deal
by Tony Kearney
LEADING figures in North-East politics and business yesterday issued a rallying call for action to deal with the region's continuing economic ills in the wake of the dramatic rejection of a directly-elected assembly. Read here

'No' campaigners get message across
After a large turn-out to vote and an emphatic victory for the No campaign, Chris Lloyd looks at the reasons behind the rejection.
When the result came, moments after 1am yesterday, it was staggering in its size.
Although all but the most convinced of Yes campaigners reckonned No would win, not even the most persuaded member of the No team was expecting such an overwhelming landslide. How did this come to pass? Read here

Why we have to strive for change
After the region's overwhelming No vote on a regional assembly, Neil Hunter looks at the areas where the North still needs special consideration.
The economy
Campaigners for a regional assembly claimed one of the most important benefits would be a better financial deal for the North-East, which suffers more than most from a funding system called the Barnett Formula. Read here

District councils will not be scrapped, despite county vote
by Tony Kearney
LOCAL Government Minister Nick Raynsford yesterday ruled out the abolition of district councils in County Durham in the wake of the No vote.
Within minutes of the announcement in the early hours of yesterday - in which the North-East electorate voted by 89,149 votes to 87,050 to scrap the district councils in favour of a single unitary authority, Durham County Council leader Ken Manton called on the Government to abide by the result and set up a single county-wide council. Read here

Northern Echo Regional Assembly News here