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The simmering row over Scotland's influence on English affairs took a new twist yesterday, with the claim that the Scottish Parliament is set to extend its powers across the Border into Northumberland and territories once ravaged by the Border reivers.
At issue are new rules for the management of fishing on the River Tweed and its tributaries that are set to be rubber-stamped by MPs at Westminster despite vocal protests from the English side of the river.
The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006 was intended as a tidying-up exercise, streamlining the complex web of rules surrounding fishing rights along the Tweed, which have traditionally been overseen by both Scottish and English authorities.
A Scotland Office spokeswoman yesterday confirmed that the parliamentary order will give Scottish ministers the power to make changes "without the need to seek agreement from a UK minister".
Despite the MPs' objections, she insisted the order is "a practical measure to ensure consistent and effective management of fisheries in the river".
Now Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, has objected to the parliamentary order because it would give Holyrood exclusive power to make changes including setting fines for illegal fishing on the Tweed and, crucially, its tributaries - such as the Till, which is solely in England.
Previously, such "subordinate legislation" had to be approved by both the Westminster Parliament and Holyrood.
"Once it is passed, the Scottish Parliament will be able to legislate for England but Westminster will have no say," Mr Beith told The Scotsman last night. "It would have been more sensible to allow amendments in both parliaments."
His protest has no chance of stopping the order taking force, but he has been backed by one Scots MP, Ian Davidson. However, Mr Davidson, the Labour representative for Glasgow South West, was not objecting to extension of Holyrood's powers but to the new rules meaning only one witness will now be required to secure a conviction for illegal fishing from the Tweed, instead of the two required in most areas of Scots law.
That, he said, showed the government had "bowed to landlords".
Another Scotland Office spokesman said: "This is a Scots law that has for more than a century and a half applied to the regulation of fisheries in the river and will continue to do so."
The Tweed, Scotland's fourth- longest river, flows for 97 miles, rising six miles north of Moffat and emptying into the North Sea near Berwick-upon-Tweed.
It has long been a symbol of division between Scotland and England, as its lower reaches mark 17 miles of the border.
The fishing dispute comes amid a growing controversy in England over the political influence wielded by Scottish politicians. At the weekend, the Conservatives insisted Scottish MPs should be banned from voting on English issues.
So when are we gonna get an english parliament?
The simmering row over Scotland's influence on English affairs took a new twist yesterday, with the claim that the Scottish Parliament is set to extend its powers across the Border into Northumberland and territories once ravaged by the Border reivers.
At issue are new rules for the management of fishing on the River Tweed and its tributaries that are set to be rubber-stamped by MPs at Westminster despite vocal protests from the English side of the river.
The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006 was intended as a tidying-up exercise, streamlining the complex web of rules surrounding fishing rights along the Tweed, which have traditionally been overseen by both Scottish and English authorities.
A Scotland Office spokeswoman yesterday confirmed that the parliamentary order will give Scottish ministers the power to make changes "without the need to seek agreement from a UK minister".
Despite the MPs' objections, she insisted the order is "a practical measure to ensure consistent and effective management of fisheries in the river".
Now Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, has objected to the parliamentary order because it would give Holyrood exclusive power to make changes including setting fines for illegal fishing on the Tweed and, crucially, its tributaries - such as the Till, which is solely in England.
Previously, such "subordinate legislation" had to be approved by both the Westminster Parliament and Holyrood.
"Once it is passed, the Scottish Parliament will be able to legislate for England but Westminster will have no say," Mr Beith told The Scotsman last night. "It would have been more sensible to allow amendments in both parliaments."
His protest has no chance of stopping the order taking force, but he has been backed by one Scots MP, Ian Davidson. However, Mr Davidson, the Labour representative for Glasgow South West, was not objecting to extension of Holyrood's powers but to the new rules meaning only one witness will now be required to secure a conviction for illegal fishing from the Tweed, instead of the two required in most areas of Scots law.
That, he said, showed the government had "bowed to landlords".
Another Scotland Office spokesman said: "This is a Scots law that has for more than a century and a half applied to the regulation of fisheries in the river and will continue to do so."
The Tweed, Scotland's fourth- longest river, flows for 97 miles, rising six miles north of Moffat and emptying into the North Sea near Berwick-upon-Tweed.
It has long been a symbol of division between Scotland and England, as its lower reaches mark 17 miles of the border.
The fishing dispute comes amid a growing controversy in England over the political influence wielded by Scottish politicians. At the weekend, the Conservatives insisted Scottish MPs should be banned from voting on English issues.
So when are we gonna get an english parliament?
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