North-East calls on Scotland to save the union

Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council and chair of the North East Combined Authority

I hope it's a No vote. I'm a strong believer in the UK and I believe Scotland and the North of England have more things in common than those that divide us.

What is clear from the referendum is that extra powers are now on offer and I believe those extra powers should be on offer throughout the UK.

Scottish-born Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald

If it's a decision in favour of separation then I fear the most acrimonious divorces. Like everyone else I await the decision of the Scottish people with bated breath.

Think tank IPPR North director Ed Cox

Whichever way Scotland votes, Edinburgh will get new powers and widen the gap with local leaders across England.

England has waited patiently while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been given ever great devolution. Now is the time to redress the balance and devolve powers to English city-regions."

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson

It's an historic decision for the whole of the UK and I believe we can achieve more together than we ever can apart.

In the 21st century the last thing we should be doing is putting up borders where borders don't exist.

Jenny Chapman, Darlington MP

Having spent the last three days campaigning in Glasgow I have seen that it's the worst-off communities that will suffer the most from Scotland breaking away from the rest of Britain

North East Chamber of Commerce director of policy Ross Smith

Quite rightly, it will be the Scottish people who will decide their own future but just how that future impacts on our companies remains to be seen.

Scottish-born Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham

A vote to maintain the union would represent just the beginning of a new phase of our relationship with Scotland that will see greater powers devolved to the Scottish people.

North East Local Enterprise Partnership chairman Paul Woolston

Our region’s common borders and natural cultural ties mean that, whatever the outcome, we want to see a strong Scotland going forward,” he said.

The North-East needs to be strategic in its outlook to make the most of well-established relationships in its future dealings with the Scottish business community and public sector.

Ted Salmon, North-East chair of the Federation of Small Businesses

From a regional perspective we're going to find there are implications whichever way it goes. There are no easy solutions anymore and it depends on what powers they are going to give away to Scotland.

North-East MEP Paul Brannen

People in the North-East, and across the rest of the UK, have family and personal ties to Scotland and it would be a great shame to see a border starting to divide us.

Professor Keith Shaw, research professor in social sciences at Northumbria University

Whatever the outcome people are now asking what sort of a voice to do want in the North-East

They are also asking what are the opportunities for us to work with Scotland.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman

Whatever the result of the Scottish Referendum – and I am certainly hoping our fellow citizens north of the border vote NO – British politics is about to change.

Scottish people have made it clear that they want more control over their lives. Exactly the same is true here in the North-East.

Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council

A No vote would be preferable and afterwards there needs to be discussions on our future here in the North-East.

We have been treated far worse than the Scots but nobody has offered us extra support.

Jeremy Middleton, entrepreneur and North East Lep board member

I hope it's a No vote. That would be better for Scotland better for the rest of the UK, including the North-East. If it's a Yes vote we will spend the next two years arguing about it and we will not achieve anything at a time when the economy is recovering.

Aberdeen-born Ian Malcolm, managing director of Redcar car parts firm ElringKlinger (GB)

I think the referendum vote is ill judged. It appears to be based on incomplete information and more on the passion and heart strings of being Scottish. The impact to the UK will be significant, and could in my view take the country back into recession.

Nickie Gott, managing director of Chester-le-Street-based She's Gott It! Events and chair of the NECC Women's Advisory Board

Being so close to the border we could feel massive affect (from an independent Scotland) from the lack of ease in doing business.

Hilary Dawson, chair of the North East Party

The vote is entirely a matter for the Scotland. I just hope the people of the North-East will get the same opportunity for devolution that they are getting.

North East MEP Jude Kirton-Darling

I believe that Scotland is best off in the UK, and best off in the EU. I would be really sad to see Scotland leave the Union.

The energy and time that would be needed to separate the two countries would be better used building a fairer country for all of us.

Graham Robb, chairman of the Institute of Directors in the North-East

Whatever the outcome on Friday morning - and I hope it is a No - the North-East needs to be able to direct more resources.

The priority should be the redirection of resources from London to the North East, not the establishment of new bodies or talking shops.

The Dean of Durham The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove

What we could easily overlook is that whichever way the vote goes, almost 50 per cent of voters will be disappointed.

We need to pray for unity and reconciliation within Scotland following the vote, and for the future of all the peoples of these islands, whichever way it goes