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rfmcdonaldOver in the United Kingdom, The Journal's Will Metcalfe describes an activist in England who wants northernmost England--basically, everything above the River Tyne to join an independent Scotland.
This sort of thing is interesting, not least since it gets down to the economic rationale for Scottish independence that has at least partly displaced and/or supplemented the nationalism behind Scottish separatism. Does it indicate an English lack of understanding in the existence of a separate, non-English Scotland, I wonder?
This sort of thing is interesting, not least since it gets down to the economic rationale for Scottish independence that has at least partly displaced and/or supplemented the nationalism behind Scottish separatism. Does it indicate an English lack of understanding in the existence of a separate, non-English Scotland, I wonder?
Andrew Gray, a member of the Green Party, has launched a petition that he hopes could lead to a referendum which could see Newcastle vote to leave England.
While the eyes of the nation have been on Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling, Mr Gray, who lives in Heaton, believes the independence debate should extend beyond the Scottish borders.
Distance from London, tuition fees, the rising cost of social care and the privatisation of the NHS are among a hat-trick of reasons Mr Gray believes Newcastle should join Scotland.
His call said: “Many people in the North East feel distant from our government in Westminster, both economically and politically.
“The Scottish Parliament has proved that different ways of running public services are possible, including an NHS without the internal market, higher education without tuition fees, and, if there’s a yes vote in the referendum, defence without the threat of Trident.
“We therefore call on the UK Government to grant a referendum to all who live north of Hadrian’s Wall, or in Newcastle and North Tyneside council areas.
