Living in the Borders as one does it seems almost incredible that 46% of the Scottish people want an independent Scotland. Yet that is the findings of a recent poll as reported in last week's Scotsman. It is slightly unconvincing result when we learn it was the SNP which conducted the poll and anyhow I would be astonished if the people hereabouts would have the same sentiments. The Borders were only marginally in favour of a Scottish Parliament and with the close economic and social intergration with the English, certainly in Eastern Berwickshire, I doubt that there would be many hands up for total rule from Edinburgh.

If Mr Blair was prevailed upon to visit here by bus we would be stuck with him most of the day given the infrequency of the Number 32. But this is hardly a marginal constituency in Mr Salmond's meaning of the word.


And talking of the Borders Bus:

Borders Bus


The number 32
from Golden Square to Timbuktu.
Via Paxton House (summer only)
Fishwick crossroads,
Paxton,
Hutton bus shelter
and
back again.

It’s integrated Borders style;
perfectly timed to leave Berwick station
just before the train arrives
And to return just after the next one
leaves.

And at one thirty it gets
exhausted
wnith all this excitement
and
stops for the day.
Thus being perfectly suited
to
the one way commuter.


Satisfaction rating:
100 percent.
No one has ever complained.
Not because Borderers are
stoic folk.
resigned to their lot
But because
the bus is always empty.

No one, it seems
wants to go
To
Timbuktu.

(even via Paxton House in the summer)

(Robert Mossom Floret Hutton 1997- Archives Hutton Think Tank, Cultural Section)


Scotsman Article

SNP poll shows support for independence JOHN INNES
THE SNP claimed yesterday there had been a dramatic surge in the number of people supporting Scottish independence, after a poll showed 46 per cent were in favour of the move.
The TNS System Three survey found 39 per cent were opposed to independence, with the remaining 15 per cent undecided.
Alex Salmond, the SNP leader, said now that the people of Scotland had a real parliament building, they wanted a real parliament to meet inside it. Mr Salmond also offered to pay the £100 cost for Tony Blair to travel to several Labour marginal seats by bus
  ¶ 5:23 AM