A BORDERS councillor has slammed a UK Government review that could look into extending the Borders Railway, describing the exercise as “a complete power grab”.

The union connectivity review was established last year to explore “ways to improve connectivity between [the UK’s] four nations and bring forward funding to accelerate infrastructure projects”.

However, Scottish Borders Council member Davie Paterson, who represents Hawick and Hermitage, alleges that the UK Government’s lack of consultation with its Scottish counterpart is the first step “to scrapping the Scottish Parliament”.

“Most people are not fully aware of the union connectivity bill,” said Mr Paterson, an independent councillor, who issued this newspaper the text of the speech he had prepared for last month’s full council meeting.

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“How can it possibly be right and democratic for the UK Government to just go ahead with this bill without any consultation with the devolved parliaments in the UK?

“They picked a chair and committee without any consultation with the Scottish Government.

“They will make recommendations in areas that are the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament.

“Councillors, I feel that if there is to be a massive investment in Scotland surely to goodness it should be decided by the Scottish Parliament.

“We elect MSPs and the Scottish Government to look after our interests and our priorities, not some Hooray Henry from the south of England that still thinks that Scotland belongs to England. I fear that it’s only a matter of time before this right-wing administration wind up the Scottish Parliament.”

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Mr Paterson added: “It is my understanding that the Scottish transport minister has written to the UK transport minister in March last year with regards cross border actions and how things can be improved but as yet no reply, but now we see this union connectivity bill with Brave Boris riding up in his white charger to save the day.

“I have to say this is nothing but a complete power grab and sadly I feel the first steps to scrapping the Scottish Parliament.”

Mr Paterson – who supports the extension of the Borders Railway – voiced his opinion at a full council meeting on January 28.

At the meeting, councillors approved SBC’s proposed response to the union connectivity review, as part of the ‘call for evidence’ consultation process.

A spokesperson for the UK Government’s department for transport said: “The independent union connectivity review, chaired by Sir Peter Hendy CBE, is engaging with the devolved administrations including the Scottish Government, as well as local authorities, transport operators, businesses and academia.

"The review is looking at how to improve connections across the UK, bringing communities closer together to level up access to jobs and opportunities.”