(08 Sep 2016, 11:03 pm)G-CPTN wrote Devolution for the north-east of England is "off the table".

You'd make a very good politician; It says ther matter was reviewed post-Brexit, as a result of fears over funding. So, rather than an "about face" by the Local Authorities involved, it could be argued that they were simply naive in thinking Westminster would do anything to give northerners more control over destiny. Obviously, Brexit raises doubts overall because - assuming the North East is the same as the rest of England & Wales outside the M25, then what little public money you got was from Brussels not Whitehall, anyway.