I would be in favour of allowing Scots dual-citizenship rights on grounds of fairness and practicality, particularly for Scots living in the vestigial UK who might wish to register as Scottish citizens without having to be stripped of their British citizenship. A similar situation would apply to English-identifying people living in Scotland, who might want to seek the advantages of Scottish citizenship without renouncing the British citizenship that marks what passes for official recognition of their Englishness.

If one allows this dual citizenship, then it is only fair to allow Scots living in the remaining UK to vote in elections where they live, so long as UK citizens living in an independent Scotland can vote in Scottish general elections.

There is still an issue of asymmetry, though: Scots being allowed to have their Scottish cake and eat the British one, too (now that sounds familiar); while other UK nationals would not have access to the benefits (assuming they would be benefits) of dual Scottish-British nationality - unless the conditions for becoming a Scottish citizen were set up in such a way that anyone in the UK could apply to become a dual Scot-Brit.

I think that's the big underlying question here: what would constitute eligibility for Scottish citizenship? The mere fact of living in Scotland? But then would 'non-Scots' resident in Scotland be offered an opt-out; and would Scottish-identifying Brits not resident in Scotland be allowed to opt in? And what constitutes 'Scottish identity' anyway? The fact of being born in Scotland, or of having Scottish-born parents or grandparents? Or identifying with Scotland and Scottishness in a more personal way as one's culture and nation? Take the case of children of English couples, born in England but brought up in Scotland. If those children think of themselves as Scots, are they in fact Scottish and would they be eligible for Scottish citizenship? I think a flexible definition of Scottishness, and hence the possibility of dual citizenship, will inevitably be required to deal with such grey areas.

I've no problem with dual identities so long as the people concerned have some sort of connection to the country they wish to be citizens of but what I would object to is the continuation of "British nationality" following the creation of a Scottish state. Scotland cannot leave the UK, she can only end it. Whether or not a union is maintained between England, Wales and the north of Ireland (although I fail to see why we should be lumbered with Scotland's colonial legacy in Ireland) that nation cannot call itself "Britain" as the act of union which created the British "nation" would be nul and void. The successor states following the end of the 1707 union should revert to their former names of England and Scotland. If the Welsh and the Irish of Scots decent are unhappy with that arrangement then they can always folow Scotland's example.

So now we have more blurred boundaries and muddier water to throw into the equation of an English parliament.
Ye gods! it makes me seriously think of withdrawing support for the campaign.
Either we want an independent self governing nation or we don't.
Dual nationalities !....on yer bike.

If the Scot's want to leave the so called United Kingdom then they leave, they will also have to face the full benefits and suffer the full pitfulls as well of a small independant country.

LBB, this site doesn't necessarily reflect CEP policy, it's a forum for debate on any issues affecting England and Gareth deliberately plays devils advocate in his postings. We don't have an English Parliament to decide on our behalf whether Scots should have dual nationality in the way that the Scots do. The Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies can't make the decision either but they can voice the opinion of a nation to the British potentate. So this site gives us a chance to voice our opinion as Englishmen and women on an important matter.

That's an interesting point that I hadn't thought of. Technically, Scotland's departure from the Union ends 'Great Britain' (remember that one: the 1707 'Kingdom of Great Britain'?); but does it by that token sever the 'United Kingdom' within which England, Wales and N. Ireland are currently conjoined alongside Scotland? I don't know, nor - I feel sure - do the SNP. The very terms within which they have posed the question is revealing of an assumption or insinuation that Scotland's identity (if not yet her political status) is already separate from 'Britain', rather than integral to the existence of Britain. The identity of the vestigial UK state - assuming that it does continue in some shape or form - would be very much up for grabs, I'd say. But I certainly wouldn't put it past them to try to retain the 'Britain' tag. After all, Roman 'Britannia' - the actual Roman province - was pretty much what we know as 'England & Wales' today!

Thanks Wonko, yes it is important to point out that this site does not necessarily represent the CEP's opinion, nor necessarily my own or any of the other authors. It's designed to stimulate discussion and debate.

Given the fact that you feel the way you do, LBB, perhaps you might look favourably on anything that makes the Scots more likely to vote for independence, including the option of dual citizenship.

Personally I have no real problem with the idea. I can't really envisage a British Isles where we do not have freedom to cross national boundaries, set up home, work, vote, access free health care and social services, even if the individual nations do go for independence. It's only a short step to being able to apply for official citizenship. Unionist politicians like to scaremonger that independence will make foreigners of family members. Now I don't accept that argument for one minute. I imagine that this SNP ploy is designed to assuage fears that some Scots may have, and to mitigate the 'make foreigners of family members' argument.

I can understand LBB's exasperation. It does seem that dual nationality would allow the Scots to have their cake and eat it.The far distant prospect of an English Parliament means that the people of England will not themselves be consulted on this.The waters of national identity will become even muddier.

It will not be the decision of Salmond as to whether the Scots can have English nationality. It is the decision of the English.
If any Scot wants dual nationality then he/she should apply for citizenship. I mean here that they should ask the English authorities.
They, the Scots, should not be allowed to have it both ways. If they want independence then that's it, no halfway house.
When England leaves the EU, which I'm sure we will, then we will have to set up border control if Scotland remains in the EU. Any Scot, living in England who chooses to have a Scottish passport should then be made to apply for permission to stay in England because he/she will be a foreigner.
I've become a hardliner and am not prepared to compromise, I would never have the cheek to ask for a Scottish passport nor do I want one. If you get a divorce then that's what it is, a divorce.

Either you're an independent country, or not.

So, no, if, or more likely, when the Scots go their separate way, they should have no more rights in what might remain of the UK than, say, the French.

This is a fatuous question, and one we need not waste time arguing over.

Mr Salmond and his cronies seem to be taking this seriously.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/6163149/Ale...

A few McStigmatic clowns who seem entirely unaware that we English will have a say in the arrangements for the dissolution of the 'union'.

Mr Salmond will have to ask us nicely. From my standpoint the answer will be a clear no. I don't want a Scottish passport and never will want one. As I said earlier a divorce is a divorce and as I read elsewhere would you want to share things with your obnoxious ex partner.

William Gruff
....A few McStigmatic clowns who seem entirely unaware that we English will have a say in the arrangements for the dissolution of the 'union'

Err, would that be as in the 'say' we had on devolution for the other nations(sic) of the 'union'.

Cloud cuckoo land springs to mind, just who will grant us this 'say'

I wrote 'will', not should.

You wrote '(sic)'. Where did I write 'nations'?

Trigger happy halfwit 'springs to mind'.

I'd guess that with your defeatist mentality you are a member of the CEP. Whether or not, you are more part of the problem than the solution, as is the CEP.

William Gruff
I am interested to know how..we English will have a say in the arrangements for the dissolution of the 'union'...

Other than the CEP speaking on our behalf (who you appear not to support) there are no English elected MP's who are the slighted bit interested in supporting our cause.

From where I'm standing it will be the McWhatevers who will do it for us by being given the say in a referendum in Scotland, and a no vote by them scuppers the whole idea for years to come.

Perhaps we can help the Scots along by voting in a Tory government.

I voted NO! coz i don't think it would be right for scotland to enjoy the same rights as the other nations after they cut off the UK's head... so to speak. You can't have things both ways, If you leave you leave, you can't leave and keep you foot in the door.

I think yes ON 1 CONDITION: that its equally reciprocal, that we can hold dual British and Scottish citizenship as well. Remember, a lot of people will have family connections in Scotland and we can't leave them in such a situation.
However if its not reciprocal then they can forget it, why should they be allowed British citizenship and us not Scottish citizenship?