"EU membership is a complete and utter red-herring."
No it isn't.
Trade takes place between England and Scotland because it is of mutal interest that it should happen, not because of English links with Scotland.
There is no reason in the world why trade should not continue if the political link was broken by independence.
Britain fought tooth and nail to maintain trade links with its old colonies, just as it is fighting to keep the markering links with Europe after Brexit - why should Scotland be any different?
It is arguments like these that fill the seas with red-herrings
Jim Carroll