Abstract
ABSTRACTDrawing on recent research on the Anglo-Scottish border, this article examines the social and economic impact of a more powerful Scotland on its “nearest neighbors” in the North East of England. In examining a series of competing narratives that shape how the significance of the Anglo-Scottish border and borderlands have been understood, the discussion begins by highlighting the longevity of a traditional conflictual narrative that a more powerful Scotland will undermine the North East’s economic fortunes. The article will further consider the strength of a competitive narrative by capturing how North East reactions to the independence referendum north of the border have been used as a springboard to argue for greater powers to be devolved to the North East itself— and has led directly to a new generation of “Devolution Deals” being offered by the UK Government to the English regions. Thirdly, the article will examine how the discursive space created by the referendum campaign (and outcome) has created the conditions within which a collaborative narrative—highlighting how Scotland and the North East of England have a shared history and common social and economic challenges—has emerged. The article will conclude by considering whether the emergence of a new cross-border relationship between the “Northern Lights” allows the Anglo-Scottish border to be conceptualized more as a “bridge” than a “barrier,” particularly given the UK’s recent decision to leave the EU.
Highlights
Almost overnight, the whole dynamic of the relationship between Scotland and the rest of the UK has fundamentally changed
The size of the “Yes” vote in the referendum (45% of voters—1.5 m Scots—wanted to leave the UK), the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) stunning electoral performance in the UK General Election in May 2015 (House of Commons Library 2015) and their continued criticism of the UK Government’s “limited” devolution offer have all ensured that the issue of, even greater, devolution to Scotland remains firmly on the political agenda
The article will examine how the discursive space created by the referendum campaign has created the conditions within which a collaborative narrative—highlighting how Scotland and the North East of England have a shared history and common social and economic challenges—has emerged
Summary
The whole dynamic of the relationship between Scotland and the rest of the UK has fundamentally changed. Opportunities for dialogue between the North East and Scotland have been strengthened by Glasgow joining the UK Core Cities Group, which comprises England’s eight largest urban economies outside London —Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield—along with Glasgow and Cardiff (Core Cities 2014) In terms of the latter, one other example of this new cross-border approach is the Borderlands Initiative which brings together the five local councils nearest the border, Northumberland, Cumbria, Carlisle, Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders (Figure 2). This report captured how the combination of the debate on Scottish independence, and the continuing search for a post-regional future for sub-national governance in the North East, provided opportunities to consider new, creative, cross-border approaches to boosting economic development across the Borderlands—both on the east and west sides of the borderline. It reinforces the importance of the political dimension in creating and reshaping economic boundaries and can provide a response to a situation where functional economic geographies fail to map on to the institutional structures that policymakers propose and form (Pugalis and Bentley 2013, 8)
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