Musings from the Merse

Sunday, February 17, 2008

TV poll backs Berwick border move
Is a headline in today's BBC on line

Berwick to go to Scotland

Fishwick opts to Cross Tweed

could be the sub headings.

Full story:

Berwick has changed hands between the two nations at least 13 times
Residents in the Northumberland town of Berwick-upon-Tweed have "voted" in favour of becoming part of Scotland.
According to a poll by a TV company, 60% of those who responded wanted the town to be administered by Scotland.

Better financed public services, including free personal health care for the elderly, were the main reasons.

The referendum, for Monday's ITV1 Tonight programme, saw 1,182 voters in favour of becoming part of Scotland and 775 in favour of staying in England.

Earlier this month politicians in the town vowed to block any move to take Berwick back into Scotland.

I'm not saying that the Scots should not get what they get, but that we should get the same

Pro-England supporter Barbara Herdman

The hard-line stance came after Scottish National Party MSP Christine Grahame lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for the town to "return to the fold".

But the town's Lib Dem MP and council leader warned it would be too complicated and cause major upheaval.

Organisers of the TV programme said the poll turnout of 1,957 votes compared to some 3,800 in the last local elections.

Former policeman Michael Ross, from Berwick, who headed the pro-Scotland campaign for votes, said: "Berwick is a very special place and I think it is largely forgotten within England.

"I believe we would be the jewel in the crown of Scotland, I believe our economy would be better understood and better looked after by the Edinburgh government than it is by Westminster."

'Grass is greener'

Former school teacher Barbara Herdman campaigned in the town for a pro-English vote and for a change in how public spending is allocated across the UK.

She said: "I think that Berwick should stay part of England because it's so unfair what is happening at the moment.

"The Scots are getting more money than we are. I'm not saying that the Scots should not get what they get, but that we should get the same."

It is reported that some of the inhabitants of the bustling, car infested hamlet of Fishwick are looking to be reunited with England. "Northumberland has a much better record on traffic management than Berwickshire" said a spokesman (76) who had forgotten his name and could not be identified

(The image is of the Tweed at Fishwick. Difficult to get the village across the river but Hutton Think Tank is on the job)

Labels: Berwick upon Tweed, Fishwick Bypass, Return to Scotland