Minister says SNP independence policy would mean passports to get to England

Published on Saturday 3 April 2010 20:18

THE UK government has said it would be forced to erect passport controls at the Border between England and Scotland following independence.

• Bryant: warned of EU rules

A letter from Europe minister Chris Bryant, released by Labour today, says an independent Scotland that was a member of the European Union – core SNP policy – "would lead to the establishment of new Border controls between England and Scotland".

EU rules introduced following the signing of the Lisbon Treaty last year would compel an independent Scotland to enter a Europe-wide, border-free zone, Bryant argues.

As the UK has opted out of this zone – known as the Schengen area – it would be forced to erect a passport control between Scotland and England to maintain its borders, he claims. An independent Scotland would also have to commit to meeting the criteria for adopting the euro, Bryant says.

Bryant's claims put the independence issue back on the electoral agenda, despite SNP attempts to play the key policy down during the run-up to the UK ballot. Fellow Labour MPs last night said this "exposed the fantasy" of Nationalist claims that independence would not cause great disruption to UK-based residents.

But the SNP accused Labour of "trotting out ancient and discredited rubbish" ahead of a general election campaign.The party claimed the situation at the Border, post-independence, would be the same as in Ireland, where residents in the north travel unimpeded to the south.

Bryant's letter was prompted by a request from Scottish Labour MP Iain Davidson and lays out the UK government's view on how a Scottish state would be treated within Europe.

Bryant claims it would be "very difficult to know" whether Scotland would be quickly given entry into the EU. He goes on to state that the Lisbon Treaty, signed by all 26 nations last year, means all new entrants to the union must join the Schengen area. Covering most of continental Europe, including France, Germany and Italy, countries that sign up agree to allow residents to pass across borders without showing any ID. But the UK and Ireland have opted out of this.

Bryant therefore states that once Scotland had gone into the Schengen area, passport checks would have to be erected at the Border. This would be the only restriction however; Scots would still be able to live and work in England without a work permit.

Davidson claimed: "The SNP say Scotland would still have a 'social union' with the rest of the UK, but people would have to show passports at Gretna to get in or out of Scotland. It's completely ridiculous."

The UK opted out of the Schengen area in 1997, when it was created. Both it and Ireland claimed that, as island nations, their situation was different from that of mainland Europe. Both say passport controls are vital in fighting crime, drug smuggling and illegal immigration.

However, the SNP last night questioned the entire basis for Bryant's letter, saying Scotland would not be classified as an "accession country" as it is already part of the EU.

A spokeswoman said: "The reality is set out in the Scottish Government's white paper and draft referendum bill. As independent members of the European Union, both Scotland and the rest of the UK would enjoy full access to the other's markets, with open borders and freedom to travel and work throughout the EU."

She added: "An independent Scotland and the rest of the UK would both continue their membership of the EU on the basis of equality – as a range of European and legal experts have confirmed."

This is disputed by the UK government, which says Scotland, if it left the UK, would need the agreement of all member states tojoin the EU.

Bryant claims that as part of those accession negotiations, Scotland would have to adopt in full the controversial common fisheries policy.

The SNP spokeswomansaid: "Labour's anti-Scottish position is silly and will cost them votes."