Independent Scotland 'may have to apply to join Commonwealth'

It has always been assumed that Scotland would remain part of the 53-member organisation even if it broke from the UK.

But following the revelation in The Scotsman that Scotland could be forced to apply to become a member of the European Union, the secretary general of the Commonwealth has said certain criteria would have to be fulfilled in order for a new country to join.

At the moment these criteria are being examined because of the demand by new countries to join the Commonwealth and gain more status in the world.

Scotland would fulfil these criteria, which include accepting the Queen as head of the Commonwealth and English as the main language. And the SNP said there would be no question of an independent Scotland leaving the body.

However, the Labour Party said the situation highlighted the dangers of independence.

The Commonwealth, which has two billion citizens, or about 30 per cent of the world's population, remains a key organisation in international politics.

Don McKinnon, its secretary-general, said an independent Scotland "could apply" to be a part of the body. He said the issue of how new members were accepted was being considered by the Commonwealth Committee on Membership, because a large number of states, including Algeria, Israel, Rwanda, Sudan and Yemen, wanted to join.

He said: "It is not quite an automatic process if a member splits off from another state, but there is a process. Do you believe in Commonwealth values? Do you accept Commonwealth values? Do you accept English as the language and do you accept the Queen as the head of the Commonwealth?"

Mr McKinnon said it would not be hard for Scotland to fulfil the criteria. "I would not think this would be a big issue," he said. "After all, if Scotland can be an independent nation in the Commonwealth Games, then I do not think this element would be a particular problem."

A spokesman for Alex Salmond, the First Minister, said previous Commonwealth declarations meant dependent territories of member countries automatically qualified for mem-bership if they achieved independence.

"As a successor state, Scotland would remain part of the Commonwealth as an independent member," he said.

But a Labour spokesman said independence would risk Scotland's place in the world, and added: "This latest evidence highlights the massive and hugely damaging impact of the SNP's plans for independence."

53 VOICES ON WORLD ISSUES

THE Commonwealth is a group of 53 countries.

Each member pays a certain amount based on population and GDP.

At the moment the British government pays about 4 billion per annum.

• The Commonwealth forum is one of the few places where smaller countries such as the Cook Islands are able to have a voice in world issues.

• Membership guarantees a place in the Commonwealth Games, where Scotland already competes separately and which could be held in Glasgow in 2014.

• The Commonwealth not only observes elections but members that do not respect the rights of voters are expelled.

• Climate change and world peace are just two of the issues the organisation is tackling through education and research.