English Scots say independence would cause change

AN English Scots for Yes group has been launched, with supporters including education secretary Mike Russell.

By ANDREW WHITAKER Friday, 27th June 2014, 1:24 am

Michael Williamson from Merseyside who has been in Scotland for seven years. Picture: Toby Williams

Mr Russell, who is originally from Kent, said an independent Scotland would be a “beacon” for change in England. The body, which was launched outside Holyrood yesterday, is the latest group backed by Yes Scotland, alongside organisations such as Lawyers for Yes.

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The group includes postman Alan Bothwell, a Labour supporter and trade unionist, who moved to Scotland from Manchester in 1990 and now lives in Perth.

He claimed that Scottish independence would “put a fire under” the English and make people fight for social change north and south of the Border.

Mr Bothwell said: “I don’t believe the No campaign wants power to go away from Westminster, whereas I feel as though Holyrood has provided us with better governance.“

Yes campaign supporter, Robin Horn, who is from West London, said England would have to adapt to an independent Scotland and that this would benefit both nations. Mr Horn, a floating voter who lives in Edinburgh, said: “South of the Border there is an increasing disillusionment with politics and the left doesn’t have a voice.

“Independence would mean that England would have to adapt and Westminster would have to pay more attention to the different regions or the UK.”

Yes supporter – Tom Platt, 71, who is from Stoke, but now lives near Glasgow, claimed Holyrood was “perfect for Scotland” and would deliver better services if it had the full powers of an independent nation’s parliament.

The English Scots for Yes group, which claims hundreds of members, was founded by SNP supporting couple Math Campbell-Sturgess a nationalist councillor in Inverclyde – and Angel Brammer, who originally come from Cambridge and Portsmouth respectively. The group is open to Scots with English family members and those who were born south or the Border, but now live in Scotland.

Mr Russell attended the launch of the campaign alongside other English-born senior SNP supporters including public health minister Shona Robison and nationalist MSPs Christine Grahame and Nigel Don.

Mr Russell said: “An independent Scotland would provide a beacon example for change and how it can be done.”