PENRITH and the Border MP Rory Stewart has warned we would need to create a patrolled frontier in the event of a ‘yes’ vote for Scottish independence.

While it is true the Scottish National Party proposes a more flexible immigration policy than the UK, it is by no means certain this would translate into a major border problem.

It is one of the many issues surrounding the independence vote that are worryingly unclear, indicating perhaps that we should be wary of some of the more flamboyant claims made by both sides of the debate.

For voters to make an informed choice they need verifiable information - but, as Cumbria Chamber of Commerce chief executive Rob Johnston points out, this has been lacking throughout the campaign.

Understandably, each side has a posture to maintain and we may only see a clear way forward after the die is cast on September 18.

Of course, there may be a hangover of bitterness from the losing side, but ultimately Scotland and England will have to maintain some form of relationship, whichever way the ballot goes. Perhaps for inspiration we should look to our relationship with southern Ireland, with which the UK has its only current land frontier.

Even during the Ulster troubles, it has never been a closed border like the one Mr Stewart envisages between Scotland and England.

Of course, immigration could be a specific issue if Scotland were to be excluded from the EU as senior European figures warn. But is it really likely to happen?

Only if the threat is carried out and Scotland is no longer party to the Common Travel Area treaty is there likely to be a case for any form of border monitoring between Scotland and England.

Otherwise, the only annoying downside to independence might be in border communities like Longtown and Gretna where mobile phone users could end up paying roving charges if they accidentally lock on to a celluar signal transmitted from over the ‘foreign’ border.