to believe the remaining UK should not make special exceptions for Scottish economic refugees?

[longfingernails]

In the event of Scottish independence, the Scottish economy will be in the toilet. In this event, Britain should not be allowed to become a magnet for Scottish economic migrants.

I wouldn't blame Cameron if the Scots choose independence; the Tory party don't exactly have a strong foothold in those parts. However, I will certainly excoriate him if he gives an inch in any negotiations in the event of independence - especially if he allows large scale unskilled immigration from Scotland into Britain.

An independent Scotland would have almost zero negotiating power and Britain should exploit that to maximise our own advantage.

I've always wanted a go of a bow and arrow, or maybe a cannon.

Was it James II that shot himself with his own cannon? James IV?

Strong border control. . We're teeny tiny in numbers OP. Fear not hordes of marauding Scots desperately trying to sneak into Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Historically what this teeny tiny country has achieved on a world scale is quite impressive.
Are you a wee bit in awe?

While we're at it we could stick Trident in Northumberland?

The way I see it though it won't be a British border force, it'll be an English one, non?

MintChocAddict Scotland indeed has a proud history. Many of the proudest moments were made possible because it was part of a proud Union.

Nevertheless, I don't want unskilled foreigners from any country coming into Britain. If Scotland chooses to become a foreign country, then no exceptions should be made on historical grounds.

Maybe Scotland could rekindle the auld alliance and France and Scotland together could invade rUK (just for fun)

While we're at it we could stick Trident in Northumberland?

Nah.Thames would be better...

No Basketz Schengen border posts are manned by the country itself, it'd be Scotland maintaining and paying for border control.

(It was James II who shot himself with his own cannon. James IV died at Flodden)

Scottish people are not 'foreigners' you twat.

Have you any idea how intermingled the countries are genetically?

This thread is too fucking stupid for words.

No border control between UK & Republic of Ireland, you can just wander between the two with n'er a passport shown.

I rather suspect Portsmouth would be the long-term home of Trident in the event of Scottish independence. Trident is one of the very few cards Salmond has to play in the negotiations, but it is a rather pathetic one - the remaining UK would only need a Scottish base for a couple of years at most before it had built another one for relocation.

Gosh thanks for all your help. What would we do without you?

FWIW I strongly believe it'll be a no vote in September (despite your best efforts this evening to wind up as many Scots as possible).

LaurieFairyCake If Scotland becomes independent, then Scots would become foreigners.

Getting rid of nuclear weapons is not pathetic in the slightest.

Surely Schengen only applies between two EU countries?

Scotland is going to be forever barred from the EU, and rUK is going to leave, so bows and arrows on Hadrian's wall it is...

It all depends on who wants to keep who out...

Nevertheless, I don't want unskilled foreigners from any country coming into Britain. If Scotland chooses to become a foreign country, then no exceptions should be made on historical grounds.

Oh dear, I'm sniggering like a teenager with a bottle of buckie*

No we wouldn't.

Guess what, we can even still be British as we will still live in the British Isles.

I know it's not really worth responding to this but can I just say (1) in my neck of the Scottish woods we have, for decades, had lots of English economic refugees (not to mention lifestyle refugees) who will be welcome, along with the other nationalities who have come to work here, to stay on if this September vote goes the right way, (2) I have every confidence that an independent Scotland with its highly skilled and resourceful people (who have been thus for many centuries) will not result in economic emigration but, on the contrary, a stronger Scottish economy, and (3) if any of us do want to leave for economic reasons, the chances are that we will be heading for somewhere much more promising than England...

I don't know why the OP is worrying about this anyway.

We all know that independence would be cataclysmic for the known world, and we would descend into fire and brimstone and nuclear war and we'll all be dead, or living in a Mad Max style post apocalyptic world.

Borders are the least of our worries.

We are doomed I tell you. Doomed.

good points scone

PMSL at this thread.

If anything OP I suspect Scotland will be manning the border to make sure some of us don't flee North.

Kinda ItsAll. Because the UK has an opt out, if Scotland didn't secure it's own opt-out it would have to erect border controls and maintain them if/when it joined the EU.

An exodus of skilled indigenous middle-class English over the border into Scotland is more likely tbh if there's a yes vote than a flood south.

1. No crazy Gove education -check
2. Reasonable house buying process - check
3. Sensible population density -check
4. Sufficient natural resources to maintain population -check
5. NHS intact - check
6. Non- war mongering foreign policy - check
7. English the majority language in city communities check.
8. University education a possibility for babies born today based on merit not money check

It's the insane policies of Westminster that have brought the Union to this point. I fully expect Wales & NI to break away next if there is a yes vote for Scottish independence.

Excuse the terrible grammar!! Off to bed with me.

Itsall, surely you've got the message that we'll be out of the EU, while having to adopt the Euro and join Schengen? I mean, didn't you get the memo?

Can't wait for Gordy's pension bombshell tomorrow.