THERE won’t be a “people border” between an independent Scotland and England, the Scottish Government’s Constitution Secretary insists.
Speaking at a fringe event at the SNP conference, Michael Russell said even after the split the Common Travel Area would be in place.
Earlier at the event on Brexit and independence, organised by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) thinktank, Professor John Curtice said leaving the EU would make the question over the border more pertinent in the minds of voters.
The Strathclyde University academic, said: “The fact that Brexit is happening, whether it happens with or without a deal, is one of the many factors, one of the many changes of material circumstance.
“That means some of the issues that were debated in 2014 are very different. Including, if an independent Scotland is seeking to rejoin the European Union (EU), then the question of what happens to the border between Gretna and Berwick becomes more important than it was in 2014.
“Because it will become a single market border and managing that single market border, I guess will be even more difficult if we’re talking about a no deal scenario than if we were talking about a deal scenario.”
Asked what would happen, Russell was confident that there would likely be some trade agreement between the UK and the EU – even if that meant Boris Johnson having to back down.
And with an independent Scotland likely to rejoin the EU, Russell told delegates: “There are a number of borders. There will not be a people border because quite clearly the common travel area will continue to be in place. There won’t be a people border.
“The question is would you have a customs border?
“The issue of whether or not there would be a customs border I think in the end will be resolved by there being a trading arrangement between the UK and the EU.
“Despite the difficulty we’re in the moment that will in the end happen. It may have to happen because Boris Johnson has to claim down very substantially. So in those circumstances if we are in the EU or moving into the EU then we will be governed by that.
“If Johnson chooses to erect a border as fortress England then there will be a border with everybody. If he chooses not to do so then there won’t be a border with the rest of the EU, we’re in the EU therefore there will not be that type of customs border.”
Russell said he being a full member of the EU would better than the halfway house of an “EFTA/EEA solution in the interim”.
He continued: “My own preference is to go for full membership and that remains the position of the Government. I’m one of those politicians who thinks that if you have a conviction of something you think is right, you should go for what is right and I think membership of the EU is right for Scotland.”
Professor Nicola McEwen, the co-director of the Centre on Constitutional Change, said readmission to the EU was not a foregone conclusion for an independent Scotland.
McEwen said a lot would depend on how independence would be secured in the future.
She said: “If the process is seen as legitimate, there’s no doubt in my mind that Scotland would be considered to be a candidate country, but that’s not necessarily the same as convincing all of the EU member states that there is commitment to the European project.”
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