The Guardian: Thousands Sign Petition Calling for North of England to be Part of Scotland

The Guardian reports tonight: “More than 12,000 people have signed a petition demanding the north of England break away from the ‘London-centric south’ and join a new Scotland.

“The petition argues that cities such as Manchester (pictured above) have much more in common with Glasgow and Edinburgh than those in the south of England.”

According to the report, the petition says the northern English cities “feel far greater affinity with their Scottish counterparts such as Glasgow and Edinburgh than with the ideologies of the London-centric south” and demands secession from the UK.

“Signatures to the Change.org petition were rising rapidly on Thursday before a visit to Manchester by George Osborne, the chancellor, and the only MP in the new Conservative cabinet with a northern English constituency.

“Osborne, MP for Tatton in Cheshire, is expected to set out his plans to offer northern cities more powers if they accept elected mayors as part of his ‘northern powerhouse’ vision.

“Earlier this week the Prime Minister appointed the Stockton South MP, James Wharton, to be Minister of the ‘northern powerhouse’, which is a non-cabinet role.

“The petition suggests the map of the UK be redrawn, extending Scotland’s southern borders along a line that runs between the mouth of the Humber and the Dee, which flows east from Wales via Chester and discharges to the sea between Wales and the Wirral peninsula in England,” the report added.

“New Scotland would see Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and the rest of the north of England ruled from Edinburgh instead of London, with the Scottish National party holding the reins.”

This after “the SNP won 56 out of the 59 Scottish seats in Westminster last week, leaving the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats with just one each”.

“The petition was started last year during the Scottish referendum campaign but lay dormant following the no vote.

“It has received a new lease of life in the last week since the Conservatives won a majority in the general election, more than doubling the number of signatures in the past few days.

“The performance of the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon in the first leaders’ debate impressed many voters in England, who took to Google to ask if they could vote for her party despite living south of the border.”

The petition states: “The needs and challenges of the north cannot be understood by the endless parade of old Etonions [sic] lining the frontbenches of the House of Commons. The north of England should join the newly independent Scotland and regain control over its own destiny. We, the people of the north, demand that in the event that Scotland becomes independent the border between England and the New Scotland be drawn along a line that runs between the river Dee and the mouth of the Humber.”