YES campaigners in the Borders have received a major boost ahead of the September 18 referendum with council leader David Parker coming out publicly in support of Scottish independence.

Mr Parker, who has led Scottish Borders Council as an Independent since 2003, is to be the keynote speaker at a community centre meeting, organised by Yes Tweedbank – one of around a dozen local pro-independence campaign groups – on Friday, June 20.

Some elected colleagues at Newtown are said to be unhappy at Mr Parker’s high profile endorsement of independence, but he is unrepentant.

“Like any other citizen, I have the right to express an opinion,” said Mr Parker this week.

“I have very recently come to the conclusion that this region – and the local government which serves it – will be in safer hands in an independent Scotland.

“It is a personal view and not necessarily that of the council.” Speaking exclusively to the Border Telegraph, he went on: “The intelligence-insulting negative campaigning of Better Together and its supporters have probably tipped the balance for me.

“The Labour Party tells us that if we vote no, then Scotland will get more powers and further devolution, but it flatly refuses to spell out what this will actually mean.

“What I do know as the leader of the council is that local government has been treated relatively well by the SNP government at Holyrood which has used its diminishing block grant from Westminster to, as far as possible, support local services and jobs and to freeze Council Tax while allowing major projects like the Borders Railway to progress.

“We are currently sustaining spending cuts of around 3% a year, but contrast this to England where the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has removed the need component from what it gives councils, some of whom are now facing devastating cuts of 35% and real social problems. It is little wonder that UKIP is cashing in.

“As someone who considers themselves a social democrat, this general direction of politics in the south appals me and gives me real concerns for the future if we remain within the UK.

“The railway is already bringing economic benefits to the Borders and I would hate to see that compromised if Scotland is further marginalised by Westminster after September.

“My hope is that talented politicians – like Labour’s Alistair Darling and Lib Dem Michael Moore – will play a full part in an independent Scotland which will, despite the scaremongering predictions, have a currency union with the UK and be an even stronger member of the European Union from which we have benefited so much.” Mr Parker was first elected to represent Tweedbank on SBC in 1995 as a member of the SNP, but gave up the party whip in 2002.

“That was a pragmatic decision based on the need to form a workable coalition to fix the crisis of the £3.9m overspend in education,” he stated. “I am currently not a card-carrying member of any party.”