Member News
John Prescott's dream of greater devolution to the English regions has been dealt a devastating blow by a "no" vote in the North East referendum.
The region voted by 696,519 to 197,310 against the plans in an all-postal ballot.
All 23 council areas in the region, including Tony Blair's Sedgefield council, rejected the plans, which had been championed by the deputy prime minister.
Prescott has been the driving force behind plans to establish regional centres of power.
He had hoped the North East referendum could pave the way for similar moves in the North West and in Yorkshire and Humberside.
The Cabinet minister has insisted that an assembly, if approved, would have a "mandate for change".
But the comprehensive defeat has indicated a lack of interest in greater powers for the English regions and is likely to kill off any hopes for further regional assembly polls.
The result is also a personal political blow to the deputy prime minister.
Their say
Speaking in the wake of the result, Prescott said: "Last night people in the North East decided that they do not want an elected assembly. They have had their say.
"As a government, we believe in giving people more say over the decisions which affect them.
"That is a more democratic way of making decisions and of course we abide by the people's decision.
"As a consequence of last night's vote the government will not introduce the Regional Assemblies Bill. Nor implement the local government changes that arise from an assembly."
Taking stock
Prescott went on to say the government would look carefully at the result before deciding whether to offer the other regions a vote on devolution.
"In regards to the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber we will take stock of the Electoral Commission's report, last night's result and the interest in those areas," he said.
Despite the poor poll showing for the Yes cause, Prescott insisted he still supported regional devolution.
"My own personal view is that an elected regional assembly would be in the best interests of the region. That has not changed," he added.
Opposition response
The Tories welcomed the result and concluded that Labour's devolution plans were effectively dead.
"I think the whole idea of regional government has been blown out of the water by this vote," said Bernard Jenkin.
"This is decisive vote against regional government, against more politicians and more talk.
"The fake devolution which Mr Prescott proposed has been rejected, and the regional agenda is now dead."
The Liberal Democrats also weighed in against the devolution system on offer from the government.
"Labour's half-baked ideas on devolution prompted this No vote. With so few powers promised, this was not a true test of the region's desire to take power from London," said local government spokesman Ed Davey.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd