Could my family avoid Brexit by moving to Scotland?

[DartmoorWilderness]

My young family and I reside in the England- and are all of English descent (no dual nationalities or claim to parental ones etc. is what I mean!)

Theoritcally if Scotland did leave the UK and remained in the European Union, could we move there before that point and remain in the EU that way?

Would you have had to live in Scotland for a period of time before that point?

Or is everything so all over the place, no one has a clue what's going to happen! :)

[AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected]

I guess (and it is a guess) that if you moved now it'ld be okay, because we're still in the EU

if you waited until you needed to move, it might be too late to qualify to move IYKWIM

That's assuming scotland stayed somehow

[Thefuturecouldbebright]

They wont be in the EU, its exceptionally unlikely, move to scotland by all means if you love it there, but it wouldnt be wise to place all your bets on the EU outcome. Spain will never allow it to happen, think of the basque separatist agenda.

[Mistigri]

You might be better off moving to Ireland if you're serious about this. I don't know enough about the ins and outs of Irish citizenship to know the details, but I believe that Northern Ireland residents can get an Irish passport too (presumably under certain conditions).

[MyKingdomForBrie]

It won't happen while Scotland is part of the UK but it might well if they cede. The Spanish argument would no longer hold water.

[Thefuturecouldbebright]

But I think it would, because the basque region would increase their bid for independence If they thought they could get some deal with the EU out of it...

[Thefuturecouldbebright]

Which wouldnt happen of course, but they would certainly garner more support by telling people they would.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

But if Scotland became independent it would because they face being dragged out if the EU - this dies not apply to Catalonia (unless Spain leaves the EU)

[Thefuturecouldbebright]

I know, I agree, its complicated, but I cannot see that spain would give any ground at all that could potentially send mixed messages on this issue. Just cant see it happening tbh..

[Thefuturecouldbebright]

My point is, OP would be taking quite a risk to base the decision on this factor alone.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Anyway, OP, if Scotland became independent and remained in EU I'm pretty sure you would be very welcome to move at that point - Scotland needs more immigration.

[AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected]

here's the problem, IF scotland was to have a future outside of the UK and in the EU, that'll take more than 2 years.

So by the time you were sure that scotland was a safe bet, we'ld be long out of the EU, and then our rights to move there might be reduced.

If however you move up there within our 2 years, you've no guarentee at all that it'll ever happen

Ireland: It's a major culture change, yes people speak English, but it is a different country and culture. If you move where your industry is (i.e. cities) you may struggle to get a school place if not catholic. Their womens rights are miles behind ours too.

Ireland is not like England but not England

It's a lovely country, but it is a different country.

And as it stands now, you wouldn't be entitled to any benefits if you fall on hard times in the first 3 years (except child benefit)

[RortyCrankle]

If Scotland had another referendum and they voted for independence, it would not be them remaining in the EU while the UK extricated itself. They would have to apply to join the EU requiring approval by all 27 member states and as Thefuturecouldbebright correctly pointed out, there are several EU countries with separatist issues of their own who will block the application. At the very least, it could take months/years for Scotland's application to be accepted, whereupon they will probably have to join the EU and accept Schengen etc.

While Scotland waited to be admitted, it would have to be financially independent with it's own currency (it will not be given permission to use the pound sterling) relying on dwindling oil supplies and with the oil prices at rock bottom. There will be no-one to bail them out if they got into difficulty.

To top off the above, it's very probable that other EU countries will be holding their own referenda and the whole thing will likely implode anyway in the next few years.

[PrenticeB]

Hey! Of course you can!

Scotland needs more migration and you'd be very welcome.

All of these messages about spain and other other countries vetoing Scotland's membership of the EU are nonsense, there is plenty of evidence out there to suggest this would not be the case.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/02/spain-drops-plan-to-impose-veto-if-scotland-tries-to-join-eu

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/spain-foreign-minister-alfonso-dastis-no-veto-independent-scotland-eu-membership-application-a7662531.html

www.scotsman.com/news/spain-would-not-block-independent-scotland-eu-application-1-4409892

Moreover the price of Oil continues to rise boosting the economic case for independence everyday (although we have plenty other important resources to: Whisky, Gin, Dundee's rising game industry, our growing fishing industry, just to name a few.)

The Scottish Government is currently in the process of building a National Savings Bank which I think will be turned into Scottish Central Bank in the years of becoming independent allowing us to use our own currency.

But like I say you would be more than welcome here, the people are friendly, the food and drink good and the countryside beautiful.

[SheriffCallie]

To qualify for dual citizenship you need to have been born in NI, not merely be a resident there, so that’s not really a solution either.
NI and Scotland are similar in that there will be a push to break away from rUK in both post-Brexit, but even should that be successful for either it’s unclear what would happen to rUK citizens living there post breakaway, so I’d be reluctant to uproot my life and move there in case i was expected to leave again.

[Thomasinaa]

I'm not aware of anyone having a definition of "Scottish". There are huge numbers of people originating from England living in Scotland. And Scotland is encouraging immigration. I really can't see them booting out people born in England if Independence happens.
I think that Spain has said that it won't oppose Scotland joining the EU as long as it becomes independent lawfully.
I can see all this taking a long time though, and not sure what will happen if the Westminster Government continues to refuse an independence referendum.
Brexit is such a disaster, that I imagine that a referendum held shortly after Brexit would result in a vote for independence. Then yet more political and economic turmoil.

[bellinisurge]

For Scotland to get back in the EU, there would have to be a break up of the UK - with all the associated trauma for everyone. If you really want to be in the EU, move to Ireland. I am a British born Irish citizen as is dh and (assuming the application works out) dd will be too.
No plans to leave the UK.

[Alondra]

Scotland can't remain in the EU automatically even if it gains independence from the UK. Scotland joined the EU as part of the UK, as an independent country it will need to apply on its own merit to be a member of the EU. It could take years of negotiations and even if is fast tracked it will need to be approved unanimously by the 27 members. It's complicated.

[bertiesgal]

All of this disruption and Scotland voted overwhelmingly for remain.

It all feels very unfair.

The just want everything to go back to normal.

[bertiesgal]

The=I

[Thomasinaa]

My Scottish conservative MP keeps on writing to me to explain that loads of Scots voted Leave.

[bertiesgal]

And loads more votes to remain.

What Cameron did was unforgivable.

Solve a rift in the Tory party by asking people to vote yes or no on a complex issue. Spend the preceding years blaming the EU for all sorts of things to distract from your own inadequacies. Demoralise the electorate with years of unnecessary austerity.

Hey presto, England and Wales vote for Brexit (which has yet to be defined) and drag everyone else along with them.

Cameron buggars off to a caravan in his garden.

Decent hard working honourable people work to raise their families and keep a roof over their heads.

A bunch of over confident often over privileged individuals think they’re capable of running the country while the rest of us (who are probably more bloody capable than them) would never dream of trying to run anything out with our own area of expertise.


Raab explaining the importance of Dover- Calais as if he has just realised this and is very kindly sharing this new knowledge with the rest of us is beyond belief .

[BMW6]

A move to Ireland would be much more logical, surely, if EU membership is so crucial to you?

[Thomasinaa]

Some risk that you'd be thrown out of Ireland.