Independent North East Mayoral Candidate Jeremy Middleton said: “This is an absolutely terrible decision. The North East’s politicians should show some leadership rather than squabbling amongst themselves. Their behaviour has divided the region, but it will be ordinary people that suffer because of their actions, not them. We need the powers to create jobs and support the NHS, they might well have thrown this away.
“The opportunities that come with devolution are clear and rejecting it will make us worse off in the long run. The political establishment that have run the region for decades have little to show for it.
“It’s sad to see councillors that once supported devolution voted against it when challenged by an independent candidate, are they afraid of change?”