Who wants Berwick-upon-Tweed?

[David Bailey]

Christine "I'm a troublemaker who has nothing better to do" Grahame has proposed a motion that Berwick-upon-Tweed be brought into Scotland:
Berwick thinks it's time to change sides ... again - Times Online

So, do you want it?

I like this bit from the article:

One aspect of border change that does not appear to have been considered is that if Berwick were granted Scottish benefits, Alnwick would want it next, then Newcastle upon Tyne. The Scottish Border could end up somewhere in the Isle of Wight.

[dep]

Christine "I'm a troublemaker who has nothing better to do" Grahame has proposed a motion that Berwick-upon-Tweed be brought into Scotland:
Berwick thinks it's time to change sides ... again - Times Online

So, do you want it?

I like this bit from the article:...................The Scottish Border could end up somewhere in the Isle of Wight.

that's where it belongs.
London would not be the Capital and the South and South East would not attract the almost incalculably large subsidies that arise from all the government departments that are down there.
Better would be the smaller impact that the flooding of London, which will eventually happen, will have on the Scottish economy. Imagine a New Orleans affecting 30% of the population and the seat of government and finance and and and.

The sooner all the flood plains are depopulated or all residences and strategic facilities are hardened against flooding the better. Hardened=very cheap and quick recovery to full, safe/healthy re-occupation or better.
Flood plains= highest water level for a 1 in 50 year flood level for existing buildings, 1 in 200year flood level for all new building. This standard of flood recovery hardening could be applied NOW for ALL new build.

[Barry Shnikov]

Now that's what I call hijacking a thread.

From 'should Berwick be in Scotland' to the floods in New Orleans in a few pithy sentences. Attaboy!

[dep]

Barry,
if you approve of the logic or the sentiment, oh heck, approve of anything in the post then increase my reputation counter. I'm struggling on that account and beginning to think no one is listening. Have I worn you out, already?

That provocative post must have wakened a few up, or stunned you into silence.

[ducasi]

Berwick is a Scottish town, and belongs in Scotland. The people of Berwick seem to agree.

I don't think the same could be said for anywhere else that's currently part of England.

[David Bailey]

Berwick is a Scottish town, and belongs in Scotland. The people of Berwick seem to agree.

You can take our Tweed, but you'll never take our, er, something else that's not very important...

I don't think the same could be said for anywhere else that's currently part of England.

Oh, I dunno - no student fees, free care for the elderly, Ceroc Scotland... I'd vote for Finchley to join it

I mean, OK, the politicos are dirty, but then so's Ken, so no difference there.

Hmmm, just looked it up (Berwick, not Finchley ). Blimey, it's tiny, 11,000 people. That's, like, less people in the average Sainsbury's over here; hell, there are probably more people in my street. I thought it was a big place for some reason.

[Barry Shnikov]

Barry,
if you approve of the logic or the sentiment, oh heck, approve of anything in the post then increase my reputation counter. I'm struggling on that account and beginning to think no one is listening. Have I worn you out, already?

That provocative post must have wakened a few up, or stunned you into silence.

Oh no, a rep tart!

I will rep people who make interesting points, or funny points, or good arguments. At the moment - and, let's face it, it's early days - you didn't make it into those categories.

[FirstMove]

Berwick may be small, but it comes with lashings of oil and gas rights. Can England do a swap for the sovereignty of the submarine bases, associated nuclear facilities and free passage between them?

[David Bailey]

{ some stuff, I think water was involved or something, but I couln't swear to it }

Errr, OK then.

Maybe a tiny bit off-topic?

[gefrin]

Hi
i live in the borders(on the english side by ten miles) and feel i have to get my say in this debate. when i say i live in the borders i mean i have lived here all my life and i truely believe that the border divide should be about 30-40 miles further south than where it currently is.
My day to day life has always been lived in either scotland or england in fact i dont see a border! I see my area. I Believe living here we have as much in common with london as we do with Paris, or any other country capital, our taxes go to a place i have never been before or ever want to go.
I dont think its a case of "what can we get from being in scotland" at least not only, its also a case of what can we give in return! north northumberland is a great, and beautiful area with lots of history of similar types as across the border. The border Reivers, and in times of war between england and scotland the people from both sides of the border spent more time forming there own clans and stealing and killing from the southerners. there are so many ties that it just seems stupid to not atleast think about the proposal.
Lets put it like this........ if on the 6'0clock news i heard that england had raised an army to take scotland and they were on the way up the A1 then don my sword i would , and chase them back to their homes with a hot arse!

[stewart38]

Hi
i live in the borders(on the english side by ten miles) and feel i have to get my say in this debate. when i say i live in the borders i mean i have lived here all my life and i truely believe that the border divide should be about 30-40 miles further south than where it currently is.
My day to day life has always been lived in either scotland or england in fact i dont see a border! I see my area. I Believe living here we have as much in common with london as we do with Paris, or any other country capital, our taxes go to a place i have never been before or ever want to go.
I dont think its a case of "what can we get from being in scotland" at least not only, its also a case of what can we give in return! north northumberland is a great, and beautiful area with lots of history of similar types as across the border. The border Reivers, and in times of war between england and scotland the people from both sides of the border spent more time forming there own clans and stealing and killing from the southerners. there are so many ties that it just seems stupid to not atleast think about the proposal.
Lets put it like this........ if on the 6'0clock news i heard that england had raised an army to take scotland and they were on the way up the A1 then don my sword i would , and chase them back to their homes with a hot arse!

So where do you dance ? Scotland or England or are you just a revoluntionary

Welcome to the forum


DJ will translate my prose if you need

[Astro]

Hi
i live in the borders(on the english side by ten miles) and feel i have to get my say in this debate. when i say i live in the borders i mean i have lived here all my life and i truely believe that the border divide should be about 30-40 miles further south than where it currently is.
My day to day life has always been lived in either scotland or england in fact i dont see a border! I see my area.

What do your friends, relatives and neighbours think?

The border Reivers, and in times of war between england and scotland the people from both sides of the border spent more time forming there own clans and stealing and killing from the southerners. there are so many ties that it just seems stupid to not at least think about it
Lets put it like this........ if on the 6'0clock news i heard that england had raised an army to take scotland and they were on the way up the A1 then don my sword i would , and chase them back to their homes with a hot arse!

They would probably drop cluster bombs first, then come in to "mop up".

[David Bailey]

They would probably drop cluster bombs first, then come in to "mop up".

Unfortunately the "English" army has been so gutted by being sent to fight two wars - and now we're sending 1,000 more troops to Kosovo, out of our obviously-inexhaustible reserves - that we'd be lucky to rustle up a spare airplane, let alone any bombs.

[Astro]

Unfortunately the "English" army has been so gutted by being sent to fight two wars - and now we're sending 1,000 more troops to Kosovo, out of our obviously-inexhaustible reserves - that we'd be lucky to rustle up a spare airplane, let alone any bombs.

Yeah, I here the army recruitment are lurking around jobcentres, trying to lure young kids as cannon fodder.

They only need a parent's signature up until the age of 18.

Parents be warned.

[Stuart M]

Actually, having given this a great deal of thought, I propose that the Scottish Government should offer the English a swap deal.

We'll take Berwick off their hands, them being such indecisive, awkward types after all, and give them North Berwick in exchange. We'll throw in the wee mountain and golf courses, and might even chuck in the Bass Rock as a sweetener. But you will have to take all the pensioners.

Yes, all of them.

[Astro]

Unfortunately the "English" army has been so gutted by being sent to fight two wars - and now we're sending 1,000 more troops to Kosovo, out of our obviously-inexhaustible reserves - that we'd be lucky to rustle up a spare airplane, let alone any bombs.

Remembered a newspaper report that said rookie's training for armed combat abroad has been reduced from 3 months to around 6 weeks. (numbers may be wrong).

So the army are under a lot of strain.

Plus a UK soldier is just as likely to be maimed by the idiot Americans "allies" as by the ememy.