No, ta

Amidst all the kerfuffle surrounding a certain popularity contest across the pond, a significant event in the democratic process rather nearer to home has been kept in the shadows.

The North-East has delivered a curt "Haway and shite, man" to John Prescott's pet project, and there now won't be another referendum on the issue of a North-East assembly for at least seven years.

The margin of victory for the 'No' campaign was enormous - 78% of the vote, compared to just 22% in the 'Yes' camp.

If you'll excuse some amateurish political reflections, the result shows my fellow North-Easterners to be a cynical bunch. Though one of the most commonly voiced complaints is that London is too distant to be sensitive to our needs and concerns, the proposal to bring aspects of government closer to the people - an honourable one in my view, at least in principle - has been met with suspicion, and ultimately rejection.

Though the North-East is traditionally very much a Labour heartlands, there does seem to be a strain of conservatism running through the region, in the sense that the state is often regarded as being too large, and the Government as meddling and interfering unnecessarily in people's lives. Many of those critical of the proposal used the standard Daily Mail / Telegraph line that it would be a waste of taxpayers' money and create yet more levels of bureaucracy.

The bottom line, though, has been the lack of assurances over exactly what powers a regional assembly would have. As someone who voted 'Yes', I have to concede the point made by mmChronic of Geordie website New Links that I was voting for an "unknown quantity".

Though I don't feel as though I was sucked in by the Labour propaganda machine, I guess that, as with most things, I was voting with an ideal in mind, on a matter of principle, rather than allowing myself to be put off by the carping over specifics and confusion over what it would mean in actuality. It doesn't matter now anyway.

One final thought: turnout was under 48%, compared to 70% for the American presidential election. Should we be ashamed? Or is it simply a measure of the fact that the national apathy towards politics is more pronounced in the North-East? If so, then I find it quite staggering that so many people showed no interest in such a potentially major decision (whether for better or for worse).

(For the thoughts of fellow Geordie Paul, click here.)