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Row over Poles right to remain in an independent Scotland

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Independence campaigners have claimed their opponents have been wrongly telling European citizens they would not be welcome in an separate Scotland.

Marek Soltysiak, director of the Polish Community in Scotland organisation, claimed he was warned by Better Together activists that a Yes vote would force his countrymen to leave because they would no longer have the right to live here.

Solicitor advocate Robert Holland, founder member of the Lawyers for Yes group, said: “Not only will European nationals have protected rights by their inherent citizenship of the EU, but the Scottish Government has pledged that their residency will be fully protected after a Yes vote.”

A Better Together spokesman strongly refuted the claim.

“If the nationalists don’t have any evidence to back up this assertion they should withdraw it and apologise,” he added.

Meanwhile, doubts have been cast over Scottish Government claims that a separate state’s entry into the European Union would take 18 months.

Labour and the Conservatives highlighted remarks made by Spain’s Minister for European Affairs Inigo Mendez de Vigo who said it would take five years for the country to rejoin the organisation and would be forced to join the euro.

Gianni Pitella, president of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, also claimed it would take years for the process to be completed.

The Italian politician said: “Scotland will have to apply to become a new member state, and the accession will have to be approved by all other member states.

“Circumstances which by default will not be easy, especially from those affected by secessionist movements.”

Mr Pitella said being outwith the EU meant a controlled English-Scottish border, EU regional funding would end and fishing rights would have to be re-negotiated from outside.

He said an independent Scotland would have no automatic right to UK opt-outs such as joining the euro or participation in the Schengen area of travel without frontier controls.

The Scottish Government insists there would be no need for border checks, the country will not have to join the euro and a currency union with the rest of the UK would be negotiated.