Scottish Independence & UK Citizen by Descent (England)
May 27th 2012, 10:52 am
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 622
Re: Scottish Independence & UK Citizen by Descent (England)
No one can possibly say for certain what would happen if Scotland were to become independent of the UK and therefore were to create its own nationality laws, with a Scottish citizenship as part of those laws. (This, incidentally, is just a small example of why creating an independent Scotland would be no simple thing: that is not to say that it can't be done, but I think some people are running away with the idea that a decision will be made and it will all be straightforward after that.)
Anyway, in practical terms, however, it is hard to see that a fully independent Scotland would try to have all resident British citizens who did not become Scottish citizens removed from the country. This would be a logistical and economic nightmare: the two countries are extremely closely intertwined. At the very least, I am sure that there would be some generous "grandfathering"; much more likely, I should think, would be some sort of arrangement analogous to the one that exists with Ireland and the UK, whereby the citizens of each other's countries have rights enshrined in national laws that lie outside any EU legislation.
And we're looking some years ahead: the referendum is not mooted to take place until 2014, and if the outcome of a referendum were to point to a fully independent Scotland it would take some time after that to implement all the necessary changes. And changes to the citizenship laws would be likely to be some of the less urgent changes, in the sense that everyone could limp along indefinitely with the current arrangements if necessary.
Anyway, in practical terms, however, it is hard to see that a fully independent Scotland would try to have all resident British citizens who did not become Scottish citizens removed from the country. This would be a logistical and economic nightmare: the two countries are extremely closely intertwined. At the very least, I am sure that there would be some generous "grandfathering"; much more likely, I should think, would be some sort of arrangement analogous to the one that exists with Ireland and the UK, whereby the citizens of each other's countries have rights enshrined in national laws that lie outside any EU legislation.
And we're looking some years ahead: the referendum is not mooted to take place until 2014, and if the outcome of a referendum were to point to a fully independent Scotland it would take some time after that to implement all the necessary changes. And changes to the citizenship laws would be likely to be some of the less urgent changes, in the sense that everyone could limp along indefinitely with the current arrangements if necessary.
Last edited by CPW; May 27th 2012 at 10:54 am.
May 29th 2012, 3:33 pm
#17
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,194
Re: Scottish Independence & UK Citizen by Descent (England)
This is just one of the many, many reasons why Scotland will never become independent.
May 30th 2012, 10:05 am
#18
Started off with nothing
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,946
Re: Scottish Independence & UK Citizen by Descent (England)
Stranger things have happened, never say never. There are many english who would gladly vote scotland out of the UK.
IMHO, there is a lot of zenophobia to be overcome. The key would be if Salmond can convince a significant proportion of those english and a.n.other nationalities who live in scotland that they are very welcome to remain and would share in scotlands prosperity.
IMHO, there is a lot of zenophobia to be overcome. The key would be if Salmond can convince a significant proportion of those english and a.n.other nationalities who live in scotland that they are very welcome to remain and would share in scotlands prosperity.
May 30th 2012, 10:20 am
#19
Was in Canada, now home.
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Devon
Posts: 3,388
Re: Scottish Independence & UK Citizen by Descent (England)
Stranger things have happened, never say never. There are many english who would gladly vote scotland out of the UK.
IMHO, there is a lot of zenophobia to be overcome. The key would be if Salmond can convince a significant proportion of those english and a.n.other nationalities who live in scotland that they are very welcome to remain and would share in scotlands prosperity.
IMHO, there is a lot of zenophobia to be overcome. The key would be if Salmond can convince a significant proportion of those english and a.n.other nationalities who live in scotland that they are very welcome to remain and would share in scotlands prosperity.
May 30th 2012, 10:26 am
#20
Started off with nothing
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,946
Re: Scottish Independence & UK Citizen by Descent (England)
Last edited by missile; May 30th 2012 at 10:52 am.
