Berwick’s nationality debated in Parliament
Feb 20 2008 by William Green, The Journal
THE battle over whether Berwick should stay in England or join Scotland reached Parliament yesterday.
Scottish Nationalist MP Pete Wishart has called for negotiations between the Scottish and UK Government to begin so that Berwick can be “warmly” welcomed back into the nation of Scotland.
In a Commons motion, Mr Wishart also welcomed a poll commissioned by ITV’s Tonight programme that found a majority of Berwick’s residents want to become part of Scotland.
“The people of Berwick recognise the benefits of being governed by a Scottish Government in Edinburgh committed to improving services instead of the current situation of remote uncaring Westminster indifference,” added the motion.
Mr Wishart, who represents Perth and Perthshire North, highlighted how Berwick has changed hands between England and Scotland at least 13 times in the past and stressed the views of residents should be “paramount” in deciding its future.
But Berwick MP Alan Beith tabled a rival early day Commons motion, used to raise issue of concern, in response to the furore that has erupted about which country the Northumberland town should be in.
The Liberal Democrat’s motion criticised the “so-called” poll, saying it was conducted by asking a limited number of people in the street whether Berwick would be better off in Scotland.
And the Berwick MP said the SNP Government in Scotland issued a statement saying that it was not making any territorial claims on England, which he wanted to draw to Mr Wishart’s attention.
But his motion recognised “that the ITV programme identified the genuine concern that Berwick and other parts of England do not enjoy the free personal care for the elderly and free student tuition rescued by Liberal Democrats when they were part of the coalition Government in Scotland”. Mr Beith also highlighted how English areas do not enjoy higher spending on schools, roads and other public services under the Barnett formula used to hand out Whitehall cash.
