Scottish independence: English town of Doncaster stakes its claim to Scottish heritage
Doncaster: a home away from home for Scots? Picture: Neil Hanna
THE civic leaders of the town of Doncaster have suggested that their citizens should be given a vote in Alex Salmond’s independence referendum after historical research suggested that their town is a little part of England that still belongs to Scotland.
Two Doncastrian historians have been researching Anglo-Scottish hostilities 900 years ago when David I of Scotland conquered parts of northern England.
Doncaster was handed to Scotland with the signing of the Treaty of Durham, which ended hostilities in 1136. Another treaty three years later confirmed Scottish-ownership of the Yorkshire town – but new research has found that there is no official confirmation that the former mining town was ever handed back.
The mayor of Doncaster Peter Davies suggested his home town should now be allowed to vote in the referendum. “We would be delighted to take part and if I did I would probably vote for Mr Salmond. I think he is the top politician in the UK at the moment,” said Davies, who represents the English Democrats, the political party committed to English devolution.
“But this is all very new to the people of Doncaster – the realisation that we might still be part of Scotland.”
The quirk of history that has encouraged a Doncastrian intervention in Scottish politics was made by historians Peter Robinson and Charles Kelham. They found that in 1157, Stephen’s successor, Henry II of England, simply took back areas lost to the Scots – but without any official documentation to seal the deal.
Doncaster still has relics from the time. “We have King David coins dating from that time found in Doncaster so the links are certainly there,” said Robinson, the Doncaster museum officer.
The SNP said the residents of Doncaster must be delighted to discover their unexpected Scottish heritage.
“And even although they won’t be able to vote in the independence referendum, it will be little wonder if people in the town – and other parts of England – are casting envious glances north, given the popular policies of the SNP Government compared to the stale fare on offer from the Westminster parties.”
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Comments
There are 49 comments to this article
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Nicecollars
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 03:04 PMA tongue-in-cheek article it might be, but I'm from Doncaster, have been a committed socialist all my life, proudly support the Scots in any sport I can, love the country, have never met a Scot I haven't really gotten along with, and I have to admit that when the news reached me I was bloody thrilled! And in all honesty, I reckon Doncaster Rovers would probably do all right in the Scottish First Division too (I'm not sure we'd be in the SPL, but that'd be okay - whatever division we were in it'd give me an excuse to come North of the Border every time we had an away match).
BYE BYE ENGLANDISTAN
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 03:57 PMENGLAND IS FINNISHED WITHIN 25 YEARS YOUR KIDS WILL BE WEARING BURKAHS ITS A NUMBERS GAME DO THE MATHS
Dave C.
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 02:17 AMThis nonsense about Doncaster is of course a joke, but, whenever anybody seriously tries to question Scotland’s borders, they are either a diehard Unionist deliberately seeking to complicate matters, or a fool being used by diehard Unionists seeking to complicate matters. Number 40, “Libra Personified”, the Tweed only forms the Border with England for part of its length. The fact remains, whether you like it or not, Berwick has been outside of the territory where Scots Law applies for many, many centuries. Also, whether you like it or not, neither the SNP nor any other organisation seeking independence for Scotland makes any claim outside of the territory which already comes under Scots Law. And no, Northern Ireland certainly won’t have a say in Scottish independence. The demand put forward by all pro-independence organisations in Scotland is for independence from the UK. That doesn’t just mean independence from England; it also includes independence from Northern Ireland.
Dave C.
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 02:04 AMNumber 43, “Danielrober2”, regardless of what you may have done or not done in 1979 or 1997, and regardless of whether or not you were even alive then, the fact remains, the independence referendum is being conducted on the same voting eligibility rules as were used for referendums 33 years ago and 15 years ago. Trying to change the rules now to enable somebody in New York who has a dog called Scottie to vote is both un-democratic and hypocritical.
Dave C.
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 02:02 AMNumber 43, “Danielrober2”, you again wrongly assert that French elections are “more inclusive”; yet “voters are FRENCH CITIZENS over the age of 18 registered on the electoral rolls” - Scotland is actually more inclusive than France, in that citizens of the Irish Republic have always been able to vote here; and, nowadays, so can citizens of other EU countries who are resident here. At the time of the 1997 referendum on a Scottish Parliament, I asked a very good friend of mine, a French woman living in Scotland, how she intended to vote. She said she wouldn’t be voting. I pointed out that she had said she intended to make Scotland her permanent home, and would only be returning to France for occasional family visits. Hopefully, by the time of the 2014 independence referendum, having lived and worked here for another 17 years, and having given birth to and raised a child in Scotland, she will feel entitled to use her vote.
Danielrober2
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 08:24 PM# 25 Leisure_suit_Larry ...................... Le Pens nationalsits still aint won yet, in fact they are still losing.
Danielrober2
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 08:21 PM# 37 Dave C ........................ Well around the 1979 ish time period, I think I spent most of my time playing with Stretch Armstrong. Trying to open it up actually and see what it was made off. Then in 1997, I was partying an awful lot and learning and improving my trade, whilst gaining qualifications. Yep sorry but been involved, as it were, has only come about since Mandelson and Salmond have ran bandit raids into my area of sector business. Robbing intellectual property, making excellent speeches [which turned out to mean nothing] and generally messing up a rather nice small and effective field of professional activity. ......................... Oh and the French elections are more inclusive. Its just suggesting it to any politician from these islands including the SNP is to hit a brick wall of EH, WHAT, SILLY and of course but they are French. The UK could learn a lot from France at this moment in time, as they can from us, improving both countries. In particular France has adapted well to the EU and the need for people to move for work.
africraig
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 07:14 PMWow! As a Scot living in Doncaster, I suddenly feel very much at home!
The Hiker
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 06:50 PM#36 Dave C. Don't remember mentioning Northern Ireland.... It's a light hearted article, take it as such!
Libra Personified
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 06:43 PMDave C. The border between Scotland and England is the Tweed. Berwick is in Scotland, not 3 miles into England. It is administered by an English local authority for now. And Northern Ireland would have a say if the treaty of union which created Great Britain was to be anulled. Berwickshire and Northern Ireland are, after all, both examples of Westminster seeking territorial gains outwith its own borders. ================================================ But apart from theat, the article was intended to be light hearted.
Anagach
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 05:23 PMTighthead3 Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 09:20 AM The rest of the UK would probably jettison our heederum hoderrum "nation" if it had the chance ...... make the referendum UK wide. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yet again the simple rules of the world. If the rest of the UK want a vote they can arrange their own no one is stopping them. The referendum if for voters in Scotland because its about Scotland's future. As for the insults, grow up or read a book or visit Scotland which is nation, not a "nation".
samcoldstream
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 04:17 PM25# There are four candidates in the French Presidential Election. One of them is Marine Le Pen, youngest daughter of Jean-Marie, and now the leader of the racist Front Nationale. According to Le Monde, 4 weeks ago her campaign took off but now that the other three candiadates, including the incumbent Sarkozy, have upped the stake her support has flat lined. What was it Harold Wilson said? Le Monde claims that she now has as much chance of winning as Maurice Chevalier? (Source: Le Monde)
Dave C.
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 02:33 PMNumber 22, “Danielrober2”, you are wrong in suggesting French elections are more “inclusive”. They operate with much the same rules as we do. As for you calling the rules for our independence referendum “sad and isolationist”, they are exactly the same rules as applied by British governments in both the 1979 referendum and the 1997 referendum. Did you denounce them as “sad and isolationist” in 1979 and 1997?
Dave C.
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 02:18 PMNumber 34, "The Hiker", the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland weren’t very funny, and it’s no joke that there are folk in Northern Ireland who claim to identify so strongly with Scotland, they would prefer to be in a Union with Scotland rather than a Union with England. It is important that they should understand that they do NOT have that option. Therefore, every time anybody raises something like this, even as a joke, it’s important to stress that neither the SNP nor any other organisation seeking independence for Scotland makes any territorial claim outside of the territory which already comes under Scottish Law; and that, furthermore, the chances of the majority of the electorate of Scotland approving any such claim would be zero.
Dave C.
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 02:01 PMIn 1979 there was a referendum on devolution for Scotland. Notoriously, Tory former Prime MInister Alex Douglas Home promised that, if we voted "No", the Tories would introduce a BETTER proposal for Scottish devolution. That promise was spectacularly broken by Margaret Thatcher. Although I am Scottish, I wasn't entitled to vote in that referendum, because, at the time, I had been working and living in London for over 10 years. And it was RIGHT that I wasn't entitled to vote. The voting entitlement is based on where you live, not on where you come from originally. Folk who are resident in Scotland, including folk who came from England originally, will have the right to vote in our referendum on independence. "Ex-pats" will not.
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