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The results are in... almost three in four ECHO readers have backed Merseyside’s move to ‘New Scotland’ in our poll.

Some 73% said they would vote for Merseyside leave England to join Scotland - after we told how a petition had been launched making the extraordinary demand.

More than 12,000 people have signed the petition - on the change.org website - calling for the north of England to break free and join an independent Scotland.

‘New Scotland’ would see Liverpool, Manchester Leeds, Newcastle and every other northern community ruled from Edinburgh instead of London.

The petition – ‘Allow the north of England to secede from the UK and join Scotland’ - states: “The deliberations in Westminster are becoming increasingly irrelevant to the north of England. The northern cities feel far greater affinity with their Scottish counterparts such as Glasgow and Edinburgh than with the ideologies of the London-centric south.

“The needs and challenges of the north cannot be understood by the endless parade of old Etonions lining the front benches 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.”

The petition comes against a backdrop of increased pressure for more devolution for cities in the north and an ongoing debate over the constitutional impact of the SNP winning 56 of 59 seats in Scotland in the General Election.

In pictures: ECHO readers have their say on the idea of joining Scotland