david H

Just in case anyone thinks this is pie-in-the-sky, I would remind
them that in the 1950s Monmouth was transferred from England to Wales.
_The Sunday Post: Front Page_ (The Sunday Post: Front Page)

Scots plan to capture 20 miles of England

By Campbell Gunn

A politician has called for the Scottish border to be moved 20 miles
south. Liberal Democrat MSP Jeremy Purvis says current calls for
Berwick to be transferred back to Scotland are not ambitious enough. He wants
to see the border moved 20 miles to take in a large area of
Northumberland. Mr Purvis claims it could be done quite simply, with
two statutory instruments, one each at Holyrood and Westminster. One
is already going through Westminster as the Government is set to
abolish Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council. So a simple order at Holyrood
could see a massive land grab by Scotland go ahead. The move comes as a
television poll for ITV’s Tonight programme, carried out in Berwick,
is expected to show a majority in the town in favour of a shift
to Scotland.
Strong feeling
“There’s a strong feeling that Berwick should be in Scotland,”
said Mr Purvis, who was born in the town. “Until recently, I had a
gran in Berwick and another in Kelso, and they could see that there
were better public services in Scotland.” Mr Purvis continued,
“Berwick as a borough council is going to be abolished and it would
then be run from Morpeth, more than 30 miles away. “All that would be
required would be two statutory instruments, and one of them is
already
going through the House of Commons. “So it would only need a
statutory
instrument at Holyrood and then all that would be required would be an
adjustment of the Borders Council area to take in part of England.
“Scotland would then go down almost as far as Alnwick, as the
Berwick
Borough Council area extends 20 miles south into England.” Real
debate Mr Purvis claims it isn’t all a dream. “There’s a real
debate going on about this and Borders Council want Berwick, as its
population is one of the smallest in Scotland.” The result of the ITV
poll is expected to be announced in a couple of weeks. But Mr Purvis
says simply moving the border to the River Tweed wouldn’t be enough.
“The big debate in Scotland shouldn’t be about independence, it
should be about Scotland being bigger. Alex Salmond’s ambitions are
too low.” A spokesperson for the First Minister said, “The
Scottish
Government has no territorial demands on our friends and neighbours in
England. Indeed, we look forward to building a new, 21st Century
relationship of equality as two independent nations with the Queen as
our common head of state ” united kingdoms rather than the United
Kingdom. The future of Berwick is best left to the views of the
people who live there. Baker Graeme Trotter from Seahouses has
premises there and in Wooler, both of which could become part of
Scotland "which might be appropriate as he is a regular entrant in
the World Scotch Pie Championships. Bit Scottish I was born in
Berwick on the north side of the Tweed, so I do feel a little bit
Scottish. “I also have three shops in Duns, Coldstream and Eyemouth
and I know there s a lot of money being pumped into the Scottish
Borders compared to north Northumberland. I think a lot of people in
the area might want to be part of Scotland for the financial
benefits. Andrew Cowan is owner of the 18th Century Ship Inn on Holy Island. I love Scotland and to be part of Scotland wouldnt be a problem for
me but I might be in a minority on the island. Holy Islanders are
proud of their history and for historical and geographical reasons there
might be objections to it.

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Britannist

I do not accept that there is a majority in Berwick-Upon-Tweed who want to see their town moved from England into Scotland (as is implied in the article in the last posting to this thread).

If it is true that a member of the europhile Liberal 'Democrats' in Scotland is campaigning for this then every effort must be made to inform people who support the Liberal 'Democrats' in England that that party allegedly has someone in it who wants to move a part of their country into that of another nation in the UK.

Britannist

This subject has now made the national news - it has just been reported on TalkSport radio's 11 am news.

This alleged plan must be stopped. No part of England must be given away/surrendered.

mkpdavies

Everyone keeps telling them that Scotland is better off under this government and that the streets are paved with gold there. Is it any wonder that some towns on the border might want to take advantage.

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Smidgey

You know as well as I do what happens when you get increased government intervention. The Scottish economy has not done well for thirty years.

Perhaps if we stopped handing money out to people in Glasgow, we wouldn't need to hand it out (the vicious circle).

EDIT: I also read on the Wikipedia article about Berwick upon Tweed that the council leader there (who is also a liberal democrat) supports changing the border.

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22ANDUK

The everyday citizen won't be bothered with 'economic intervention' when it comes to switiching from England to Scotland. They'll be more interested in having their teenagers receive university grants, free prescriptions and OAP travel and see their local bobbies receive their pay-rise.

They're also losing their local council to a centralised unitary authority, as well as losing local democratic representaion by fewer councillors and the seats of local power moving 50 miles south.

Can't say I blame them, though I hope they stick with England.

What a sad state of affairs we have reached in Britain when small towns think about switching nations to have a better deal.

Who'll be next - Carlisle to Scotland? Chester to Wales?

More here:
Berwick Upon Tweed: SNP Wants English Town To Be Scottish |Sky News|UK News

mkpdavies

Woking to Costa Rica.

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g hall

London to Cuba

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Smidgey

According to the BBC article posted in another thread, around about 70% of residents in Berwick support the move.

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David Agnew

I wouldn't blame the people of Berwick if they want to take advantage of the things that they have paid for.

What I find surprising is the attitude of the SNP. They say that they do not want political union with England, but they do want political union with part of England. Why part, but not all? Is this not hypocrisy?