READER Barry Burton raises some very important points about Scotland and the UK’s European Union status.

Should Scotland gain independence from the UK this year, the likely scenario is that Scotland would no longer be part of, what would become, a reduced, but fully viable UK.

The reduced UK would continue to be a member of the EU and Scotland would probably have to apply to join the EU. An independent Scotland would have to negotiate with the EU to gain membership. Other EU countries, such as Spain, have their own issues with regions that want secession and full independence.

Catalonia for example, has campaigned for many years for self-determination. If an independent Scotland found itself in a position where it had to apply to join the EU, the Spanish may use their veto to prevent Scotland joining so as to pre-empt and deter the possibility of an independent Catalonia joining the EU as well.

Better together I think!

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