I wonder if it came from Scotland whether or not it would be returned, as per "Stone of Scone"

Excellent point Edmondsley. We know the answer. However the Region would have so much more clout if the demand for their return came from a democratically elected Regional Assembly. Those who led the "no" campaign will one day be seen as traitors to this Region.

The Lindisfarne Gospels are English and they belong back in the North East of England and not in the british museum in London.
David, the traitors to England are the Yes Campaigners.

Hi grendel
I guess that by your definition I'm a traitor. I feel passionately about our region. I consider that our locally elected Westminster politicians have zero interest in standing up for us and that we should therefore take matters into our own hands just like the Scots and Welsh (the Northern Irish too). They are doing fantastically well at our expense. The only way we will be able to give the Government a kicking is by having a democratically elected Regional Assembly. If you don't agree please explain the alternative.

A regional assembly was voted out by a substansial majority, and a good job to!, that is what is called DEMOCRACY. Had we been saddled with such a body I have no doubt it would have resulted in nothing but a slanging match between representatives of Newcastle, Sunderland and Teesside. It is interesting that many of those wheeled out by the Yes campaigners, ie Sting, to support their cause don't even live in the region. As regards the Gospels I tend to agree with the origional writer, after all Durham is still in England.

Thanks for your comments Timebandit. But I'm disappointed that like all of those in denial, you still can't explain how the status quo can help to move this region forward faster than the rest of the UK. The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish are leaving us behind precisely because their destiny is, to a large extent, in their own hands . It is also bizarre to beat a regional drum and then state that you are content with having no representation that separates out our identity. Your comments about the "slanging match" are trite and if your opinion of our local politicians is this low then all is lost - once again the Scottish Assembly is working together brilliantly to exploit the English and there is no bigger rivalry than the one that exists between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Finally, just because you don't live here full time doesn't mean that you can feel strongly about the region. Sting was born here, has his roots here and is proud of it. Did you see Ringo Starr at the launch event for Liverpool's Capital of Culture? Incidentally, had we benefited from a Regional Assembly this would have probably come to Newcastle/Gateshead.


Have you anything positive to say? And don't satisfy my fears by making another silly statement or throw-away line.

ps - the vote was 30% against the elected assembly versus 70% for it or didn't express a preference. How is that "democratic"?

Dear David, The regional assembly still exists so what have they been doing?There is also an un-elected North East Minister now but what good he is doing no one knows.
The 30% who voted Yes won the day not the 78% who voted NO.Is that Democracy?.
The alternative is an English Parliament,then powers devolved back to England's shire and Counties.

Thanks for a serious reply. Sadly you seem not to have much idea how the existing institutions work. They comprise Government Office, this being the regional equivalent to HM Government in Westminster (not Parliament!), the Regional Development Agency (RDA) One North East and the Regional Assembly (RANE). The latter has major responsibilities regarding planning, energy and housing. RANE is about to be merged into the RDA at which point its responsibilities will also shift across. It is crass to comment upon organisations without an understanding of their role as seems to be the case regarding RANE. I reiterate, if so many people have such a low opinion of our local politicians who give up hours of their time to help our communities then we are well and truly snookered. Usually these self same people are the last to offer themselves to the electorate.

secondly - your comment about the referendum doesn't make any sense to me. My point was that only 30% of those eligible to vote turned down the chance to have an elected assembly like the Scots and Welsh. The remaining 70% either wanted one or didn't care enough to vote.

Finally - I totally support the concept of an English Parliament (outside the EU) but if your idea of devolution of powers to county level follows, surely it would result in " nothing but a slanging match between representatives of Newcastle, Sunderland and Teesside" Your words - not mine!!

Best wishes for better thought out contributions in future.

Mr Lacey, you yourself decried our elected representatives in your first comment and I still contend that such an assembly would be of no value to the region.It is you who are trite by suggesting that those who do not live in our region are passsionate about it, if that were the case then they would live here, there are many suitable properties and the North East has some of the finest coast and countryside in England,I know, I walk, cycle and motorcycle through it regularly, and with modern transport links there is no excuse. Obveously,those out of the 70% you quote that did not vote were even less passionate about the idea of another layer of government that was not guaranteed to change anything, only votes cast can be counted, you cannot assume that those who did not vote agreed with you. As regards the Scots, Welsh and Irish, theirs is a different culture to ours, separated by traditions and values and even in some cases, language, indeed it is debatable that the act of union would have taken place at all if England had not begun building an empire, the Scots became the most enthusiastic empire builders, I will conceed, however, that you may have a point in making them run their own affairs without aid from Westminster, then again they might succeed

Timebandit you are intelligent enough to know the difference between NATIONAL politicians (a hopeless bunch who march to the party drum which is tuned to the needs of the South East and Scots) and LOCAL politicians who also tend to follow the party line but have the interests of their constituents at heart. Although I often dispute decisions taken by my local council I can never accuse them of favouring Cocknies or Scots at our expense.

As far as your line "suggesting that those who do not live in our region are passsionate about it, if that were the case then they would live here" is concerned I'm afraid that after several attempts, I've given up trying to understand it and referred it to my friendly expert on gobbledigook.