Here’s what Misreporting Scotland had to say:
‘Reports claiming joining the EU could take four or five years for an independent Scotland if procedures were carried out at the fastest pace. The Scottish Centre on European Relations said it was hard to argue that an independent Scotland would be unlikely to succeed in rejoining with more than four decades of membership of the EU as part of the UK but Holyrood ministers were warned the country might have to rejoin the Common Fisheries policy.’
It was a popular line:
First, there is nowhere in the SCER report the above warning to ministers or to anyone else that Scotland might have to join the Common Fisheries Policy. That’s an insert from minds of a Unionist bent either in Pacific Quay or among the opposition politicians they contacted for an unattributed comment.
Second, here’s how the report words the timescale issue:
Negotiations could be relatively speedy (possibly in the region of 4-5 years).
Has any pro-Independence supporter argued that it could be done quicker? What’s wrong with 4 to 5 years? Look how long it is taking to leave. 4-5 years would be normal is not newsworthy unless you want to present it as so long ‘why don’t we just give up on that?’
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
If only BBC Scotland were not so lazy and looked for proper sources of information instead of having a quick word with Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber ! .
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It may take 4 – 5 years for full membership but there is nothing to say that we would not be given a transition period when we had access to Single Market and Customs Union. Scotland after all has been a member as part of the UK for 40 plus years so is fully compliant with EU rules and regulations. We just would not have MEPs etc until a full member
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The unionists have, since 2014 harped on about independence as much as supporters – all of it negative/project fear stuff. Perhaps they are really worried that sufficient Scots (i.e. people resident here) will switch to YES, to make independence a reality.
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Alasdair, my recollection is that Edinburgh Uni had a survey after the 2014 referendum, and came to the conclusion that a majority of Scots who voted, voted YES.
Residents of Scotland who came originally from the EU and other parts of the UK, voted by a large margin for NO.
I would imagine that EU nationals would vote differently in any subsequent referendum—-if Westminster allows them to vote at all.
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4-5 years before joining the EU would give Scots a chance to consider our future..
I am happy enough to be within the EU, but see advantages with remaining out, joining EFTA and trading though the EEA.
This would nullify all the nonsense about the Scotland/England border. Like Norway we would control access to our fish stocks, though all else in the EU would be applicable to us.
There is a mechanism to give EFTA members a say, but obviously none of the countries involved is big enough to sway any issue (whether in or out).
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EFTA have already said U.K. cannot join
If Scotland remains outside the EU it will only be so as part of U.K.
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