- guardian.co.uk, Saturday November 6 2004 01.57 GMT
"There is nothing to rejoice about. We haven't made the north-east a better place. We have just stopped it getting a worse place"
John Elliott, Co Durham businessman, chairman of the no campaign
"I thought it was a huge opportunity and still think it is, but it did not look like that to a lot of people. Opponents produced a lethal cocktail of more politicians, more bureaucracy, more cost - I didn't share that view - which was impossible to overcome"
John Bridge, economist, and former chairman of a regional development agency, One North East
"You could say the north-east has given a very strong message - albeit, a negative one - then you say 'hang on, how does this help the region?' We had an opportunity to develop ourselves. If you look at all the indicators we're behind, and there's no plan on the table to change that. The people said they do not trust politicians"
Brendan Foster, former Olympic athlete, businessman and broadcaster
"Bizarre. It looked a safe bet. I've been backing this since 1963 when it became party policy in the region. People ironically seemed to be voting for what they were against - more bureaucracy"
Sir Jeremy Beecham, former Newcastle city council leader and chairman of the Local Government Association's Labour group
"This wasn't a vote against an assembly. It was a vote against politicians. I am relaxed about it. There is still a lot to do and we shouldn't be downhearted"
Ray Mallon, mayor of Middlesbrough
"The presence of so many senior politicians in the region over the past few weeks is tantamount to an admission by the government that the settlement for the north-east is completely inadequate ... but the proposals [on offer] were under-strength and sold the region short"
George Cowcher, chief executive of the north-east chamber of commerce
