Following the CEP’s rally in Berwick last week, a reporter from the People has been in touch to get the CEP’s input on the disparity of services between Scotland and England. He had seen the article in the Berwick Advertiser and taken the number off our banner that was in the accompanying picture!
SCOT FREE ..HUGE FEE
PEOPLE INVESTIGATION They live yards apart but life for the pampered Scots is a different world to their strapped English neighbours
By Joshua LaytonThese families live yards apart on either side of the border between England and Scotland – but they are a world apart in the public services they get.
The Scots are clear winners in value for money. Their English neighbours are losing out – and they are sick of it.
People in Norham, Northumberland, are taxed to the hilt but have to fork out for dental checks, eye tests, water bills, university tuition fees and home help for pensioners. Take a short walk down West Street and across the River Tweed bridge to the Scottish Borders village of Ladykirk and all these things are FREE.
One frustrated English campaigner warned: “Such unfairness could break up the United Kingdom.” The stark contrast has developed in the decade since Scotland got its own parliamentand began flexing its muscles to provide a fairer deal for people.
And the yawning gulf is growing, with better help for disabled Scots and the promise of radical council tax reforms.
The affect devolution has had on the UK are vividly highlighted in border communities like Norham and Ladykirk, where Scottish and English houses can be just 400 yards apart.
Pretty Ladykirk is booming and set to have its population tripled with a development of 22 homes.
In gloomy Norham, residents struggle to sell houses. The post office is closing and both pubs face a bleak future.
In the nearby English border town of Berwick, Cabbie Ryan Heald said: “We’re suffering.
Berwick and Norham are out on their feet.
Scotland is thriving.”
For many people south of the border, enough is enough. Last week protestors waving flags and banners gathered in Berwick. They demanded an end to the raw deal England gets – which in extreme cases can mean the difference between life and death.
More than 20 life-saving drugs are available in Scotland but not to NHS patients in England. Many now believe an English parliament, separate from Westminster, is needed to look after their interests.
Della Petch, of the Campaign for an English Parliament pressure group, said: “The drugs included treatments for lung cancer. The NHS has put a price on lives – and an English life is worth less than a Scottish one.” The group’s Michael Knowles added: “What sort of United Kingdom are we when there’s this enormous disparity?
“England is not getting the same benefits as Scotland or Wales but is paying for most of it.”
But Berwick MP Alan Beith does not feel an English parliament would solve problems caused by Scottish devolution. He said: “The people of the north would still be in a minority, with no more power to make decisions which affect the area.”
Pensioners – Scotland
‘It is better north of the border but we are affected by England’
Pensioners Albert and Irene Towns pay no water bills in Scotland. The monthly £270 rent and £90 council tax for their cottage in Ladykirk is about £330 cheaper than south of the border.
The retired factory workers, aged 63 and 64, are eligible for a home insulation scheme. They will also qualify for home nursing care up to £210 a week if needed. Albert even saves £60 a year on his fishing hobby because no licence is needed. He had a serious knee op and has a disabled badge for his car. But they get just £45 pension each and said: “It’s hard. The way things are in England affects us.”
The Barrett family – Scotland
‘Scottish system is very much fairer’
The Barrett family moved to Ladykirk, from Lancashire and love the huge benefits they derive from the social revolution taking place in Scotland.
They live a stone’s throw from the border, but say they have NO desire to go back.
The whole family now qualifies for free dental, oral, eye and sight checks introduced three years ago.
Picture framer Brian Barrett, 42, and his musician wife Karen, 44, pay just £250 a month to rent their cottage. That is a saving of £350 on the cost of a similar property just to the south in England.
They pay no water bills because the fees are covered within their council tax and even that is set to be reduced by half from £ 8 4 under Scottish plans to replace it with a local income tax.
Their son Ben, nine, travels on a rural school bus service which stops outside their home. He will not have to pay tuition fees if he goes to university. The family can buy most prescription drugs for £2.10 cheaper than in England – and all charges are to be scrapped in 2010.
Mrs Barrett said: “The Scottish Government appears to be going towards a fairer system, especially with the council tax changes.
“We also found the system of applying for a school for Ben a lot quicker and simpler.
“And the schools are all wonderful. Some are quite a long way away but they have received a lot of investment.
“Ben considers himself English because he was born there. But he loves his school in Scotland.”
The Hek family – England
‘Crazy uni fees will put sons in debt’
On the English side of the River Tweed, Ronnie and Gail Hek are really feeling the pinch.
They shell out £400 a year for water – while just 300 yards away in Scotland it is piped into homes for free.
With NHS dentists scarce, Ronnie, 54, and Gail, 50, have been forced to pay £17.10 a month to join a private clinic.
They would get free dental examinations and all health checks if they lived just ten doors north under Scottish law.
They pay £1,390 council tax in Band D but reckon they would save £700 under Scottish reform plans.
And their reward for paying more is to be given one bin for their recycled rubbish, while Scottish neighbours have three to sort paper and plastic.
The Heks run a gift-making business from home. The burden being English brings them is the prospect of paying up to £9,000 if sons, Kyle, nine, and Alex, 14, decide to study at university.
Scotland scrapped tuition fees in September 2000 and spends £51million more a year than England on funding poorer students.
Mr Hek said: “I see absolutely no reason why the English Government can’t do any of those things.
“It seems crazy to think we can look at Scotland out of our front window but have to pay for tuition fees for our sons to go to university.
“It means they’ll be in debt before they’ve even started.”
Pensioners – England
‘England just takes from the OAPS and gives us nothing’
It’s hard for English OAPs William and Janet Dunn to get by on their meagre state pension.
The Norham couple receive pension credits, taking their rent down to £14 a month. But their bills for gas, water and electricity will top £250 this year.
They can afford just £30 a week on shopping. And they don’t have a dentist because the nearest NHS surgery is 53 miles away. But ex-farm worker Mr Dunn, 77, was delighted with the eye op he had at a Scottish hospital – where there are no parking fees.
Mrs Dunn, 74, said: “Pensioners in England have money taken from them right, left and centre – but nothing is given back.”
The Post Office
‘Better to make our town part Scotland’
Many in Norham, on the English side of the border, fear their community is dying.
The post office, run by Wendy and Ian Thackray, is to shut.
Ironically, it will be replaced by a mobile service from Scotland.
Wendy said: “The post office has been in my family for 29 years but the decision was made above us. The GPs’ surgery and primary school are also under threat because of dwindling numbers.
“We want to secure a future for our two sons, so we’ve put our house on the market. But nobody’s buying.”
At the empty Masons Arms pub, landlord Mick Hall said: “I rely on B&B now. Lots of people want this area to join Scotland.”
The English patient
‘I’ve found Scots are so friendly as well’
Docs advised Tony Brignall to move to Ladykirk from Yorkshire when he needed a home specially adapted for a wheelchair.
Tony, 47 found the Scots system vastly superior to England’s.
He said: “And one is so friendly.”
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Mr Hek said: “I see absolutely no reason why the English Government can’t do any of those things”………
Mr Hek, I would start to do some genning up if I were you – the English Government cannot do any of these things because there is no English Government.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:37 pmYea! Yer need to WISE UP to British Government Tatics!
The barnet formula !was worked out on the back of a fag Packet in the early 70′s implemented straight away WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE, They kept it a secret ! witholding information ! DEMOCRACY JUSTICE EQUALITY DONT EXIST IN ENGLAND !
Ihear today on the radio, the Tories,permitted, allowed,secret deal,whatever ! with the muslims in 1996 Sharia Law Sharia Law has been operating in 6 cities in ENGLAND for 12 Years! WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH PEOPLE
THE EUROPEAN OBJECTIVE ONE WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING TO SCOTLAND -WALES -IRELAND !
Then there is the Billions to Europe !THE AMOUNT !WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE ALL WITHOUT A VOTE
September 15th, 2008 at 8:41 pmBefore the British Isles were created by God, both the lands that are now Scotland and England were continents apart, before they clashed together. The northern bank of Berwick Upon Tweed were apart of the land that is now of Scotland. Yes, Berwick became part of the anglo-saxony kingdom of Nortumbria & Lothians as it came to be a settlement from people of the low- countries. Then it was asborbed into now what is The Kingdom Of Scotland as a Royal Scottish Burgh and Scotland’s most important seaport. This meant that Berwick Upon Tweed was ORGINALLY Scottish by rights and lived in peace until King Edward the 1st, King of England (Hammer Of The Scots) crossed the Tweed and invaded Scotland and the Scots Town of Berwick Upon Tweed. He burnt the town town, murdered the inhabitants women & children replaced them by English people. The town swapped nationalities over the next few centuries 13 or 14 times. A lot of blood was lost on both sides before finally coming English. OIt has been stolen from us Scots and YES we do would like it seen handed back to its rightful owners i.e Scotland. Now my point is this if you lot never invaded Scotland and Berwick Upon Tweed, the people there would be enjoying the benefits of what Scotland truely enjoys having at ENGLAND’s so called Expense, – free prescriptions, education etc. The fact is if Berwick Upon Tweed did rejoin Scotland, we would welcome them with open arms, get rid of that mock border because south of that dyke at Lamberton toll that marks the border is a false one. All that land where Berwick Upon Tweed from the north bank of the River Tweed is Scottish Soil by rights!!!!!!! We would soon get rid of those St Georges flags flying there (probably burn them if the English don’t take them back). After all if the town’s dialect is Scottish, should those people be full blooded Scots? We would need to rebuild Berwick Rangers new football stadium across the river too. We wouldn’t really be wanting Spittal or Tweedmouth as that is English and truly Northumbrian. The Tweed River is truly Scottish as well as the Whiteadder and Black Adder Rivers and that why you need a full Scottish Permit to fish it. Surely that makes a mockery of Berwick being English. It isn’t English it is Scottish by rights so hand it back. Infact I am going there to Berwick Upon Tweed this weekend so I will bring an army and some tanks and fighterjets! Anyone wanting tae pick a fight?
June 4th, 2009 at 3:26 pmThe real fact of the matter is that Margaret thactcher privatised water in England & Wales when she was in power but was stopped short in Scotland as she would have lost all the little support she had there if she did it. Scotland’s water is under public control. Water is free and everyone should not have their water privitised. The post-offices are shutting in Scotland too and it is hard to find an NHS Dentist too. Towns here in Scotland are so run down too that they are like ghost towns. You have not got it any worse than us Scots.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:05 amThanks for your perspective on this Billy, you’ve obviously done some homework. It is genourous of you to wish to share the benefits you enjoy under the Barnett Formula with your fellow Berwick Englishmen; however, personally I feel that we would all benefit from a higher level of public funding in England. Does your generousity reach as far as the Midlands? We could do with some extra funding too!
As for towns in Scotland being like ghost towns, it seems like all the talented and intelligent Scots move to England? I’d blame the weather up there, I’ve heard it’s dreadful.
Seriously though, looking at some of your comments it seems you might need a holiday, give yourself a chance to relax now and again get some sun – Devon is lovely this time of year and they do great Scones. Don’t worry, Thatcher is not your enemy any more! Chill out!
June 17th, 2009 at 5:06 pmHello Matt,
I enjoyed your comment very much indeed. No thanks I don’t need a holiday just now as I just returned from Berwick last week, thanks for the offer anyway.
No, I would like to see England get the same sort of benefits as us and get their own Parliament so you can make up you own mind on how England is run. However, some of the threads written by other of your fellow countrymen have been saying a lot of untruths about Scotland on what we get because they are jealous. Will your English Parliament afford to pay and look after approx 50-60 million population. I hope your parliament if you end up getting one will able to do just that and the problem is solved solved.
As you said about sharing the benefits of the Barnett formula with the fellow Berwick English, I sure mostof them there don’t class themselves as English or Scots, but Berwickers or Borderers but most importantly it was really a part of Scotland orginally and should become part of Scotland again. I am sure that can be done in a more peaceful and civilised way through a referrendrum than the way done in the past since we are part of the union.The only difference is that the people will live under Scottish Law and Jurisdiction but will still to be free to cross the border over the 3 bridges as they do now as well as the same benefits. I am sure the town will be looked after properly being under Scottish rule. After all, if I or aanyone else who was born & brought up in the Northern banks of Berwick and spoke Scottish then I would class myself as Scottish and want to be a part of Scotland not England.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:15 pmIt wasn’t that long I visited The English Lake District in which I am sure is the most beautiful part of England. Yes I know Devon and Cornwall are truly beautiful too but I am on a diet so I leave the clotted cream scones out for now thanks. Maggie is not our enemy now, that is so true, but she left a legacy an unwelcome one that will last forever Matt and there is no way of turning the clock back and tryng to correct all her big mistakes.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:24 pmBilly, looking at your various recent posts I thought you ought to be reminded that this is not an anti-scottish website.
Clearly you have a keen interest in Scottish nationalist historical narrative, and that is fine, but it’s not really relevant as a topic for a blog which is specifically about campaigning for an English Parliament.
Your comments seem to be more about letting everyone know here that you are a scottish nationalist. Well, what can I say, well done. If you’d like to more usefully help us towards the goal of a referendum for an English parliament then please do, but bear in mind that we are essentially campaigning for fairness and equality for England in the here and now. We are addressing a specific issue which is directly relevant to the PRESENT political context of the UK, righting wrongs from the past will take in to the realm of tit for tat for many centuries into the future… hopefully we’ll have grown up by then.
I’m sure you have a number of issues relating to ancient battles and a whole array of previous evil political leaders who may have imposed English oppression of your courageous Scottish nation. Well, sorry to say it, but we’re really not interested in what helps you get it up my friend.
You have been amusing at times though, so thanks for your input all the same.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:45 pmMatt I know its a website for a English Parliament but no I am not a Scottish Nationalist, I was in the late 80′s until the early 90′s. I joined The Labour Party in 1996 because Tony Blair promised us he would give us Scots a Scottish Devolved Parliameent in which the vast of Scots voted for. I am keen on Scottish History and current affairs and culture. I class myself as Scottish And British. I have no current interest in Independence because in my view it works quite well as it is. There was a recent ITV poll but Berwick Upon Tweed wanting to be Scottish again because Berwick People and English people don’t get the same benefits as Scotland. So I was just putting in my output to the debate in saying please give Berwick back to us if the people really wanted it. I stated good reasons why it should, but then it isn’t upto me alone Matt and its the people Of Berwick to make that decision if they want to return or stay as they are.. However despite my own personal feelings OI think Berwick is a lovely place with lovely people. I am glad you find my input amusing Matt and I know where you are coming from and I entirely agree with you. Good luck in getting your English Parliament mate.
June 20th, 2009 at 8:09 pmBerwick is Englang and land grab will not happen. The great people of Berwick have made their decision, they are English today and forever.
June 1st, 2010 at 11:10 amWhere’s Englang?…lol
June 1st, 2010 at 12:31 pm