An edition of the Tyne Tees Television programme investigating topics affecting life in the North-East. In this edition reporter Tony Cartledge meets families from the North-East who are moving to Scotland where public spending is higher and savings of up to £7000 can be made on such things as university tuition fees. The question is also put about the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed which could vote to leave England and become part of Scotland and what the consequences would be for some of...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television programme investigating topics affecting life in the North-East. In this edition reporter Tony Cartledge meets families from the North-East who are moving to Scotland where public spending is higher and savings of up to £7000 can be made on such things as university tuition fees. The question is also put about the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed which could vote to leave England and become part of Scotland and what the consequences would be for some of Northumberland’s favourite tourist destinations as well as national union. Title: Northern Eye. Scottish Gold Aerials of Hadrian’s Wall and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland changes to a road sign on the border with Scotland welcoming visitors. A montage featuring some of the locations and individuals featured in this programme. Presenter Tony Cartledge stands on the Union Chain Bridge which crosses the river Tweed on the border between England and Scotland saying that this edition of Northern Eye is about ‘political deals, high finance and the complexities of public spending with a real human tail at its heart’. Beth Skivington-Jones and her 16-year-old son Guy open a garage door with Guy loading a carpet into the back of the families Mitsubishi Shogun. Beth talks about the families move to the Scottish Borders where they’ve found a house and the reasons for doing so being the £7000 they will save in both tuition fees for her son as well as care home costs for her aged father. They load the last of their possessions into the back of their vehicle and depart. In a conference room at Bute House in Edinburgh sitting beside two Scottish flags Alex Salmond, First Minister for Scotland says he welcomes these new residents to his country, he explains why. Tony Cartledge standing beside another border sign into Scotland and talks about the maths and the difference between public spending in Scotland compared to England. Beth Skivington-Jones says she knows friends of her who, like her, have deliberately moved to Scotland because of tuition fees. General views of the village of Swinton in the Scottish Border with a postman comes along a road. Local estate agent Ewan Aitcheson steps out of his car walking past The Wheatsheaf Hotel and Restaurant on Main Street. Standing on a nearby green Ewan explains that properties prices in the area are holding their own partly because of the influx of England wanting to take advantages of lower educational and health costs. In London the Palace of Westminster and traffic moving past, nearby Tony Cartledge speaks with Lord Joel Barnett, former Labour Treasury Minister who’s spending policy known as the Barnett Formula created thirty-years previous as a temporary measure is still being used by the Treasury to automatically adjust the amount of public expenditure allocated to reflect spending levels allocated to public services. Except for the name, Lord Barnett wants to see the formula change to be based on need and not on expenditure of per head of population. However, there is currently no political appetite either within the Labour government or Conservatives to change it. Back in Northumberland Beth and Guy Skivington-Jones drive across the border to the village of Allanton in the Scottish Borders. Beth walks into their new home speaking with her 86-year-old father Jim sitting at a table in the front room sorting through his medication. Beth explains that if Jim needed residential care, he would get it free in Scotland unlike in England were he would have to pay. She believes this isn’t right both politically and financially. We are one United Kingdom, she explains, with one set of rules for all. While her son moves bags of rubble outside the house, Beth believes the politicians needs to sort this out. General views around the border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed and an interview with the town’s Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith who sees it as unfair that because of the Barnett Formula Scotland is given great resources to deal with their problems than those in the north of England. The Berwick and Royal Tweed bridges crossing the river Tweed into Berwick itself, on the water Mute swans. Michael Ross, campaigner for Berwick to become Scottish crosses Berwick Bridge and near to the Tweed says that that his campaign is to bring prosperity and recognition to the town that could be done better by being part of Scotland rather than England. As he speaks views around the town including the Royal Border Bridge changing to an aerial of the town and Tweed estuary with Tony Cartledge asking the question, could Berwick become Scottish again? A montage of images and voices relating to the second part of the programme follows. Title: Northern Eye. Scottish Gold Over the sound of Scottish bagpipes more aerial views of Berwick-upon-Tweed with a cannon stilling manning the city walls. On nearby Halidon Hill, where the last battle for the control of town was fought between England and Scotland, David Simpson, North East Historian looks down on Berwick below. He explains the importance of the hill and battle. Standing on the city wall overlooking the Town Hall and Marygate below, Tony Cartledge explains that Berwick becoming part of Scotland again is actively being contemplated so the town can enjoy that extra bit of Scottish money. Standing in the dunes overlooked by Bamburgh Castle David Simpson asks the question what would happen to the castle or nearby Holy and Farne islands which form part of the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed? Would they become part of Scotland? David Simpson explains that these are precious assets to the northeast, part of our culture and history. As he speaks more aerial footage of Berwick. The town’s MP Sir Alan Beith seeing the legal complexities of transferring these and other assets from one country to another. As he speaks various buildings and churches in the town, who would own these under these new legislations? Holy Trinity Church in Berwick, inside a service taking place with the Vicar of Berwick Cannon Alan Hughes explaining to the small congregation that they are standing on the only bit of land north of the river Tweed in English hands. Cannon Hughes and wife Susan provide more details on the location of the church which is referred to by many Scots as the ‘Scotland’s Lost Limb’. He believes both governments have forgotten the town when it comes to funding for various issues. As he speaks in voice-over, Cannon Hughes is seen conducts communion back in the church. Market day on Marygate in Berwick with stalls set up along the road outside the town hall. A vox pop with local people and visitors with mixed views of both wanting to become part of Scotland and remain part of England. Back in London Lord Joel Barnett is scornful of the idea of Berwick becoming Scotland again, he explains why. The Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh changes to Bute House, the office of the First Minister of Scotland. The First Minister himself Alex Salmond comes into a conference room and takes a seat at the table. He talks about the Barnett Formula which he believes Lord Barnett has forgotten changes to archive of a North Sea oil platform. Alex Salmond believes if the country was independent then 82% of the oil revenues from these oil fields would go to the Scottish exchequer, for the past 30 years all revenues go to the London exchequer. Alex wants a share of that money to come directly to Scotland. Back overlooking Berwick-upon-Tweed Tony Cartledge comments that yet another row about money which can only increase the divisions between the Scots and the English making Scottish independence more likely. This situation horrifies many with Lord Barnett saying this issue is creating divisions and is concerned there is a danger that people in England will be demanding separation stopping giving money to the Scots. Sir Alan Beith says that he is opposed to the breakup of the United Kingdom but is supportive of the idea that the different parts of the country can make decisions. He wants the Scottish border to be of civic and historical importance, but not a barrier. From an elevated position over the town Berwick’s three bridges crossing the river Tweed changes to Bute House in Edinburgh which one day may become the house of the Scottish Prime Minister. Following views of Berwick city walls, the film returns to Alex Salmond in Bute House who is delighted and complimented to learn that the majority of people in Berwick would like to become part of Scotland, but currently they don’t have any territorial demands. The programme ends with Tony Cartledge standing beside another Scottish border sign saying that with both Labour and the Conservatives not planning any changes to the current public spending system, a split between England and Scotland grows ever more likely throwing the future of Berwick also into question. Title: With thanks to John Burton and The Berwick Parish Church Organ Restoration Appeal Credit: Reporter Tony Cartledge Music Researcher Jamie Lee Camera John White, Morgan Stephenson, Janusz Ostrowski Sound Post-Production The Edge Editing Facilities HT Media Editor David Hindmarsh Executive Producer Mary Wimpress © ITV Tyne Tees 2008 End credit: A Tony Cartledge Films production for ITV