After Scotland says no, regional leaders consider where the decision leaves England as a nation and the North-East as a region.

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

The Northern Echo: UNFAIR: Simon Henig

“We welcome the outcome of the referendum in Scotland as we believe there are close links between Scotland and the north of England and we are stronger together.

“It is now time to have a full debate about the devolution of power throughout the UK. If additional funding is guaranteed to meet the needs of Scotland it is reasonable to ask that funding is also guaranteed to meet the needs of northern England in areas such as transport and the economy.”

James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce

“A fair settlement is as much about finances as it is about powers.

"Scottish devolution should trigger a new debate on local autonomy in North East England, where policies are tailored to meet the needs of our region and not those of London and more influences over how their taxes are spent. Our businesses deserve a say in how a new, less centralised UK is governed in future”.

The Dean of Durham, The Very Reverend Michael Sadrove

The Northern Echo: Dean of Durham Michael Sadgrove

“I am hugely relieved that Scotland has voted to remain within the UK. I strongly believe that the Union has proved to be a highly successful federation of four nations, and it is right that England, like the rest of the UK, should have properly devolved powers over matters that are its own concern. In England, a similar process should disperse real power to the regions, otherwise the North East in particular will find itself left behind compared to a flourishing Scotland and the existing concentration of economic power in the South East”.

North-East Labour MEP Paul Brannen said

"I'm delighted that the people of Scotland have voted to remain part of the United Kingdom. I went to Scotland during the campaign and made the case to people that we are truly better together. We must learn lessons from the referendum as it has really engaged people in politics.

“I think the referendum has changed the UK and I welcome the new powers proposed for Scotland. However, the North-East mustn't be left behind and I think there is real pressure building for the region to have a bigger say over its own affairs, one way or another. "

Graham Robb, North East Chairman of the Institute of Directors

The Northern Echo: Graham Robb

“Businesses will breathe a sigh of relief that the Scottish people have opted to remain within the Union, but now is the time for the North-East to push for greater economic powers.

"There should be a change to the City Deals programme to allow the LEPs to spend more central government money within our region and the first target for the enhanced City Deal should be the transport budget “Transport is the number one priority for members of the IoD and it is clear that better connectivity and infrastructure is vital to the economic success of the region.

“Politicians will be pressing for more powers, but we must avoid expensive new structures and more bureaucracy. The priority should be the redirection of resources from London to the North East, not the establishment of new bodies or talking shops.”

Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation

The Northern Echo: Julia Unwin, Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. Pic: Mike Tipping (8194848)

“This result provides an opportunity for a new settlement for people and places in poverty across the UK. As well as Scotland, cities, regions and the North of England must be given the tools to regenerate their communities and tackle poverty. The two are not separate agendas.

“We cannot afford to see a return to business as usual: “Any new settlement must take into account the cities, regions and nations and its potential to reduce poverty. Devolution on its own will not reduce poverty and any offer of new powers must be judged by the impact it has on poverty, and come as part of a comprehensive strategy to address levels of hardship”.

Ted Salmon, North east regional chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses

“While the people of Scotland have said no to independence the extra powers that have been promised by the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats will be a big challenge to the North East and our future economic growth.

“For small businesses to be able to compete we need to see the Government now commit to decentralising more powers to the region from Westminster to ensure that we can compete on a global scale.

“Alongside this decentralisation of powers to be effective needs to be matched with a stronger decentralisation of funding to ensure we can achieve tangible success.”

Dave Hopper, general secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association

The Northern Echo: Miners' leader Dave Hopper

“It went the way we wished it would go. I think it is a bit too late in the day for the breaking up of the UK.

“When we did have coal mines and unions across the country it was always the united union that performed the better and got the better conditions, the better bargaining and the better safety, so I think it would have been retrograde if the vote had gone the other way.”

Jeremy Middleton, businessman and member of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership Board

“The result of the referendum is to be welcomed, because it is good for the UK and good for Scotland.

“In the North-East, existing organisations, such as the Local Enterprise Partnerships, need to get together to make the case for changes which will rebalance the economy to the North of the country.

“We need to be calling for such things as lower air passenger duty for all regional airports, an HS3 system, which starts in Edinburgh and comes down the East Coast and improved road links with Scotland. We should work with Scotland to put together mutually beneficial plans for such infrastructure improvements, and then take them to the UK Government.”

Jude Kirton-Darling, one of the North-East’s two Labour MEPs

"I hope we can use the energy built through the referendum campaign to create a fairer country for everyone. I think people in Scotland want to see change and a lot of the debate was about the Government in Westminster. “People were deciding which was the best way to protect the NHS and keep free university education. Those issues matter in the rest of the UK too and especially here in the North-East."

Councillor Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council

The Northern Echo: DISAPPOINTED: Councillor Bill Dixon said it was "puzzling" as to why the project missed out on funding

“It brings into question the issue of English devolution and regions like the North-East have been very badly treated for the last four years where funding has been slashed. We need a North-East formula to protect services we are running.”

Susan McDonnell, of The North-East Party

“It was always going to be close and it has given even more drive to achieve at least the same level of devolution as Scotland. We have been contacted by people from Yorkshire and Cumbria and they are keen to drive the agenda forward for northern devolution. I am not averse to looking at that but I would like to concentrate first and foremost on the North-East.”

Heather O’Driscoll, managing director of chartered accountants and business advisers, Waltons Clark Whitehill

“The vote to keep Scotland in the Union will have a huge impact upon the North-East. The debates surrounding the referendum have highlighted the need for the region to make a strong case for a larger share of funds and greater decision-making powers. However, it is important that this does not bring with it an extra layer of bureaucracy”.

Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald

"I think Cameron completely missed the point. He should not be using this as an opportunity to increase the Tory stranglehold over England – it appears to be narrow self-interest. What he should be looking at is devolving more powers to regions throughout the UK.”

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson

The Northern Echo: Labour MP Phil Wilson

“In any settlement, there has to be something for the regions and I think that has to be more powers over economic development.

“We have got to establish and beef up local authorities. I think there should be one in the North-East – including Teesside as well.”

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman

The Northern Echo:

“The prime minister should be talking to people in the North-East about what they want and what extra powers they want, rather than making a back-of-a-fag-packet declaration.

“There is not much appetite for a regional assembly in the North-East, but people should be asked what they do want.”

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham

I’m astounded by the naivety of the prime minister in thinking that all he needs to do is change the way Westminster votes.

This is not about parliament – this should be about taking decision-making back to the people, with powers for regions, or sub-regions.”

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman

The Northern Echo: SPEAKING OUT: Helen Goodman

I’m not in favour of English MPs having different voting rights in parliament – there isn’t a neat division between English and British questions.

“In our region, we will find that our position gets relatively worse. It might be a good solution for people in Hertfordshire, but I don’t think it’s a good solution for people in Durham.”