Tartan Curtain
The Tartan Curtain is a phrase used to describe how Scotland’s status could change if it became independent from the United Kingdom. It’s also used to talk about policy differences between Scotland and England after devolution. The idea has come up in Parliament, the media, and public discussions about Scottish independence. The name carries the idea of a divide, like the old Iron Curtain.
If Scotland became independent, it might have to sort out a border with the rest of the UK, and there could be changes in currency and in joining international bodies such as NATO. What would happen with Scotland’s EU status is not clear. If Scotland joined the EU as a new member, it would not automatically keep the same veto powers the UK has now.
Schengen, which allows free movement across many EU borders, is not the same as the UK’s border rules because the UK has opted out to keep border control. A Foreign Affairs Committee report notes that if Scotland joined Schengen, it would effectively create a UK land border with the Schengen area for the first time, since Ireland is not a Schengen member.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:35 (CET).