cassie

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The Cross of StGeorge blog


SIR,-I was one of those English patriots who braved the stormy weather to campaign for an English Parliament, in Berwick-Upon-Tweed (Advertiser 11 Sep 08).

The first surprising thing was the number of Scots in this ancient English town. A local shopkeeper explained that on Saturdays, Scots crossed the border to do their shopping there.

Then came the second surprise. "They hate us," he said without prompting. This fact became obvious when we handed out leaflets outlining the benefits Scots have enjoyed, since devolution, that are denied to the English.

Of over 50 Scots to whom I personally tried to hand out leaflets, only five said that England was being treated unfairly. The rest gave answers like: "We have our parliament already thanks," and: "I'm Scottish so I don't pay top-up fees," and so on.

So it was abundantly clear that in Scotland it is less a case of "Union Jack" and more a case of "I'm alright Jack".

Undoubtedly, Scottish cross-border shoppers voted in a dubious poll held earlier this year for Berwick to go into Scotland. English residents preferred it to remain in England, where it belongs. They also liked the idea of an English Parliament, in the main.

Alan Beith MP has stated that an English Parliament would not benefit the taxpayers of Berwick.

Firstly, it is not for him to decide. A referendum was good enough for the Scots and is good enough for the English.

Secondly, the Scottish Parliament made Westminster MPs redundant in Scotland because the Scottish Parliament now handles Scotland's domestic affairs. An English Parliament would make them redundant everywhere, which is why Mr Beith and other self-serving MPs oppose one.

Devolutionists have bust up Britain and now they want to bust up England with English people at each other's throats.

They have already weakened the north of England by splitting it into north west and north east regions.

STEPHEN GASH
St Augusta View
Carlisle


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