APD - Let's get real!
APD affects ALL UK Airports - and Especially Regional International Airports like Newcastle - If Edinburgh acheived advantage on APD over NCL then it Would affect Long Distance Services adverseley from Newcastle.
Salmond is a prolific ( definition: . "producing constant or successful results") Scottish political leader and will vigourously pursue all policies to give all Scotland policies an advantage over other Europen states, incuding the UK. Scotland has a population of over 5million (More than the Republic of Ireland) and much more wealth in terms of natural resources - Oil, Gas, Whisky. etc... ) - So don't be premature re. Salmond's early departure from politics!
Newcastle need to secure Long Distance routes to USA and beyond without punitive APD. So... Align with Scotland to resist APD (or at least revolt if Scotland achieve an unfair competitive advantage in their Airports "just over the border")