A No vote is the beginning, not the end.

The main players at the North East No Campaign are in full agreement that once a No vote is achieved then we join with the main players from the Yes Campaign and work together on a way forward for the region.
We need to take positive steps which an assembly would not have allowed and work together for the godd of the people and the region.
We must now shine the spotlight on the current 30 elected MP's and ask them to start pulling their weight.
But in all this we must remember that this was the imposition of a political party manifesto pledge and NOT the will of the people. That is why the whole concept has been an impossible task for the Yes Campaign to sell.

Northern Echo
4th November 2004
Comment from The Northen Echo: There must be a change
FOR decades, the North-East has called for a change to the way it is governed.
As the North-South divide has widened, our region has demanded a greater understanding of its needs, a fairer distribution of wealth, and a stronger, more relevant voice.
Today, the North-East gets its long-awaited opportunity to take greater control of its own affairs through a regional assembly.
Make no mistake - it will be the only opportunity it gets for a long time.
We do not pretend that the powers on offer from the Government are as enticing as they could and should have been.
We share the reservations that the North-East has not been given enough to persuade its people that it will improve their lives. It is too much a case of "jam tomorrow".
But we have taken the consistent view that the current system has allowed the North-East to be discriminated against and that cannot continue.
We believe that the debate which comes to a conclusion with tonight's referendum result has been of huge importance. We urge our readers not to waste their vote.
If you have not yet voted, you have until 10pm tonight. Whether it is "yes" or "no", just make sure you have your say.
If the answer is Yes, the region must work together to ensure that it is an assembly which builds on foundations it has been given, shaky though they may be.
If the answer is No, we must still come together to answer the question: "Which way now?"
Because whatever the North-East decides on regional government, the debate leading up to the historic referendum has established an area of common ground: That the status quo is unacceptable.