Barriers to success

Independence? My generation fought to break down frontiers in Europe. When I first went
over the Channel, decades ago, a visa was required, a work ­permit, a residence permit.

Now I can have breakfast in Paris, dine in Brussels and be back for supper.

The abandonment of frontier formalities across Ireland has done nothing but good in ­helping to resolve the Troubles.

The independence movement seeks to undo all this. The frontiers are coming back. A Yes vote will precipitate Heathrow-style international immigrant border controls on the way to ­Newcastle, Carlisle and Belfast.

Either an independent ­Scotland is a new member of the EU or it is not.

If a new member, then it must by legislation be part of Schengen – a consortium of 26
European countries with a free trade and travel agreement ­between them – that only excludes England and Ireland. Up go the barriers.

If not a new member, then the borders will be non-EU to EU, and equally strict. Up go the ­barriers.

The queues from Russia and Mexico to the UK are interminable. Unfairly, the Scots with the biggest interest in this issue – those living abroad – do not have a vote.

Richard Leyz

Marchmont

Edinburgh