SCOTS would be offered tailored passports as part of a radical proposal to allow them to live and work on mainland Europe after Brexit.

Holyrood officials are currently studying a plan drawn up by academics to maintain decades-old freedom of movement between Scotland and the rest of the European Union, even if it is lost by England and Wales.

The passport plan has emerged on the first day of a new Herald series which will examine the central hazards resulting from UK's European divorce while identifying solutions that will enable Scotland to benefit in an entirely new constitutional landscape.

Read more: Uncertain future for Scotland's tourist industry

In one key plan, experts believe a devolved Scotland could issue its own national insurance (NI) numbers and that these could be used to apply for jobs on the continent.

Academics also believe that the Scottish Government could grant special Scottish-only NI numbers to citizens from other EU nations who already live in Scotland or who wish to take up posts north of the border.

Professors Damian Chalmers of the London School of Economics and Anand Menon of King's College believe such NI numbers, combined with address information from the electoral roll, would form the basis of "documents additional to their passports which could serve to secure them free movement in the rest of the EU".

The two London professors believe that such arrangements could be transitional, either helping Scotland to a soft landing from Brexit or tiding the nation over to a referendum for independence within the EU.

Their idea is being considered by ministers looking for options both to enable Scots to continue to enjoy freedom of movement rights for which they voted in last June's election - and to keep Scotland in the EU single market, for goods, services and labour.

Insiders stress that the Scottish Government, desperate to mitigate against the predicted economic and social costs of leaving the EU, has an open mind and is ready to think about all sorts of different scenarios.

Read more: Uncertain future for Scotland's tourist industry

Speaking ahead of a major Holyrood debate on keeping Scotland in the single market, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "This is one of a number of valuable contributions to the debate, and the specific recognition that Scotland will need a close continuing relationship with the EU is a welcome one."

She added: "This and the other similar contributions illustrate the range of options potentially open to Scotland and the UK as a whole, and will inform our thinking as we prepare to publish specific proposals on maintaining Scotland’s place in Europe, including our continued place in the single market."

The Chalmers-Menon proposal was detailed in a position paper, widely shared in government circles, by two Scottish experts, Nina Miller Westoby of Glasgow University and Jo Shaw of Edinburgh.

The experts described continued free movement in Scotland after Brexit as "more plausible than at first blush".

They wrote: "Increasingly immigration control is taking place within the UK, in situ, for example by landlords obliged to confirm residence status before renting property, rather than traditional immigration control at the border, and this may be a means in which a differentiated immigration approach is developed.

"An example that has been mooted by Chalmers and Menon amongst others proposes that the Scottish Parliament become responsible for the issue of NI numbers and thereby develop a system where NI numbers are granted to EU and European Economic Area citizens which are only valid in Scotland."

Such a scheme may mean devolving control over wider migration from London to Edinburgh. UK ministers, including Scottish Secretary David Mundell, have already said they would rule this out.

Read more: Uncertain future for Scotland's tourist industry

Such a stance, however, comes long before the start of what are likely to be multi-layer talks between London, Brussels and Edinburgh.

Business leaders and economists are looking for any way to keep a supply of foreign workers for the economy.

David Bell, of Stirling University, has warned that cutting off Scottish access to overseas labour would hurt key industries such as fishing, agriculture and higher education.

He said: "Scotland’s economy does not have a particularly strong export record: reducing its access to foreign workers and their expertise will make it even more difficult to expand its external trade."

Some experts are sceptical about the chances of the British Government giving up control of immigration, even though such powers are devolved in other states, such as Canada.

Kirsty Hughes is the EU expert who first mooted ways for Scotland to keep some of the advantages of EU membership after Brexit without pursuing independence.

However, she now believes that a separate deal on migration and freedom of movement is "highly unlikely" within the union. She said: "If Scotland wants either just migration policy and free movement or the whole single market shebang, how could Prime Minister Theresa May agree to that before knowing what the UK-EU deal was?"

She added: "And if by any chance the EU was ready to let Scotland be in the single market, it would want too to understand how that would mesh with the rest of the UK having a different deal when it has no border with Scotland."

So any Scottish deal, she said, would have to wait for the London-Brussels one.</s>SCOTS would be offered tailored passports as part of a radical proposal to allow them to live and work on mainland Europe after Brexit.

Holyrood officials are currently studying a plan drawn up by academics to maintain decades-old freedom of movement between Scotland and the rest of the European Union, even if it is lost by England and Wales.

The passport plan has emerged on the first day of a new Herald series which will examine the central hazards resulting from UK's European divorce while identifying solutions that will enable Scotland to benefit in an entirely new constitutional landscape.

In one key plan, experts believe a devolved Scotland could issue its own national insurance (NI) numbers and that these could be used to apply for jobs on the continent.

Academics also believe that the Scottish Government could grant special Scottish-only NI numbers to citizens from other EU nations who already live in Scotland or who wish to take up posts north of the border.

Professors Damian Chalmers of the London School of Economics and Anand Menon of King's College believe such NI numbers, combined with address information from the electoral roll, would form the basis of "documents additional to their passports which could serve to secure them free movement in the rest of the EU".

The two London professors believe that such arrangements could be transitional, either helping Scotland to a soft landing from Brexit or tiding the nation over to a referendum for independence within the EU.

Their idea is being considered by ministers looking for options both to enable Scots to continue to enjoy freedom of movement rights for which they voted in last June's election - and to keep Scotland in the EU single market, for goods, services and labour.

Insiders stress that the Scottish Government, desperate to mitigate against the predicted economic and social costs of leaving the EU, has an open mind and is ready to think about all sorts of different scenarios.

Speaking ahead of a major Holyrood debate on keeping Scotland in the single market, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "This is one of a number of valuable contributions to the debate, and the specific recognition that Scotland will need a close continuing relationship with the EU is a welcome one."

She added: "This and the other similar contributions illustrate the range of options potentially open to Scotland and the UK as a whole, and will inform our thinking as we prepare to publish specific proposals on maintaining Scotland’s place in Europe, including our continued place in the single market."

The Chalmers-Menon proposal was detailed in a position paper, widely shared in government circles, by two Scottish experts, Nina Miller Westoby of Glasgow University and Jo Shaw of Edinburgh.

The experts described continued free movement in Scotland after Brexit as "more plausible than at first blush".

They wrote: "Increasingly immigration control is taking place within the UK, in situ, for example by landlords obliged to confirm residence status before renting property, rather than traditional immigration control at the border, and this may be a means in which a differentiated immigration approach is developed.

"An example that has been mooted by Chalmers and Menon amongst others proposes that the Scottish Parliament become responsible for the issue of NI numbers and thereby develop a system where NI numbers are granted to EU and European Economic Area citizens which are only valid in Scotland."

Such a scheme may mean devolving control over wider migration from London to Edinburgh. UK ministers, including Scottish Secretary David Mundell, have already said they would rule this out.

Such a stance, however, comes long before the start of what are likely to be multi-layer talks between London, Brussels and Edinburgh.

Business leaders and economists are looking for any way to keep a supply of foreign workers for the economy.

David Bell, of Stirling University, has warned that cutting off Scottish access to overseas labour would hurt key industries such as fishing, agriculture and higher education.

He said: "Scotland’s economy does not have a particularly strong export record: reducing its access to foreign workers and their expertise will make it even more difficult to expand its external trade."

Some experts are sceptical about the chances of the British Government giving up control of immigration, even though such powers are devolved in other states, such as Canada.

Kirsty Hughes is the EU expert who first mooted ways for Scotland to keep some of the advantages of EU membership after Brexit without pursuing independence.

However, she now believes that a separate deal on migration and freedom of movement is "highly unlikely" within the union. She said: "If Scotland wants either just migration policy and free movement or the whole single market shebang, how could Prime Minister Theresa May agree to that before knowing what the UK-EU deal was?"

She added: "And if by any chance the EU was ready to let Scotland be in the single market, it would want too to understand how that would mesh with the rest of the UK having a different deal when it has no border with Scotland."

So any Scottish deal, she said, would have to wait for the London-Brussels one.</s>A tour of Europe by the southern hemisphere superpowers often generates talk of the gap between north and south, but with this month’s score 3-2 in favour of the four home unions the Wales lock Luke Charteris believes the debate has changed.

“There are gaps in the southern hemisphere,” the Bath second-row said. “New Zealand are significantly ahead of South Africa and Australia and the task for the rest of the world is to catch them up. Ireland have shown that beating New Zealand is doable and the more you play these teams, the more confident and better you get.”

As well as Ireland’s victory against the All Blacks in Chicago, England have beaten South Africa and Wales have overcome Argentina. Australia are so far unbeaten on their five-match tour, winning handsomely in Cardiff before sneaking home against Scotland.

“It is hard to gauge because teams are at different points in the season,” Charteris said. “I don’t think you can ever say what any gap between north and south is because it depends who is playing each other.

“England have had a big year, following up their grand slam with a series win in Australia and a good victory over South Africa. Speaking to their players at Bath, they are clearly enjoying being part of the national set-up and the challenge for Wales is to get as good a result against South Africa next week.”

Wales face Japan in Cardiff on Saturday and Charteris feels one gap that is closing is between the tier one nations and tier two. The last time Wales played Japan, they lost in Tokyo, three years ago. The side was weakened by Lions call-ups, but included Liam Williams at full-back and Dan Biggar at outside-half.

“Teams like Japan, Romania and Georgia are closing the gap between tier one and two,” Charteris said. “It is definitely getting smaller. Japan played well during the World Cup and as a squad, we watched their victory over South Africa in the team room, cheering them on. It is good to see so-called establishment teams coming unstuck and the beauty of the World Cup is that you face teams you do not meet very often.

“Scotland were lucky to get Japan on a short turnaround otherwise that game would have been more interesting. We know it will be tough on Saturday even though they have changed since the World Cup with a new coaching team and the next generation of players. They like to play a high tempo game and will be different to sides we are used to facing.”

Wales name their side on Thursday and with their interim head coach Rob Howley considering resting his thirtysomething players, one selection debate will be whether to award a first cap to the 18-year-old Ospreys wing Keelan Giles, who was called into the squad last week.</s>On today’s Football Weekly, AC Jimbo is joined by Barry Glendenning, Paul MacInnes and Paolo Bandini to look back on the first games in the international break. But wait - don’t go!

We begin with England’s impressive win over a distinctly unimpressive Scotland, before praising Ireland and Northern Ireland for their respective victories over Austria and, er, Azerbaijan.

Next up, we discuss Edin Dzeko’s magnificent red card, and celebrate Mexico trumping Team USA.

Finally, we hear from World Soccer Magazine’s Joel Richards about Argentina’s struggles to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Is their malaise down to a psychological issue?
• We’re going back to Norn Iron! Football Weekly: 2Belfast2Furious is happening on Tuesday 13 December. Be there.
• Jimbo, Paolo and James Horncastle are doing a special evening of Italian football chat in Ireland on Monday 23 January. Don’t miss out on Gazzetta Football Dublina.
• Vote for us in the FSF Awards and prove the pollsters wrong.</s>A spokesman for Wayne Rooney has defended the England captain’s celebrations following Friday’s victory over Scotland.

Photographs have been published of the Manchester United forward allegedly dropping in at a wedding party in the England team’s Hertfordshire hotel on Saturday. The Sun claimed the 31-year-old had been drinking and that a picture showed him looking worse for wear.

A spokesman for the player said: “Wayne, along with the rest of the England squad, was on a night off duty. Rather than going out, he chose to stay at the team hotel to relax and celebrate a fine England victory against Scotland. During the course of the evening he was approached by numerous fellow guests for autographs and pictures. As he has always been, Wayne was happy to sign, pose for photos and chat with guests. It is sad that one or two of them have now sought to turn Wayne’s friendly good nature to their advantage.”

Rooney started the 3-0 victory over Scotland in World Cup qualifying but missed Tuesday’s 2-2 friendly draw against Spain because of a knee injury. After the game, Gareth Southgate stressed Rooney’s absence was not connected to what emerged from the hotel. The interim manager said: “Wayne was injured. He picked up an injury on Friday, couldn’t train Sunday and that’s it.” Rooney is now being assessed by United’s medical staff as they prepare for Saturday’s Premier League game at home to Arsenal.

Rooney has endured a tough campaign, finding himself in the unusual position of fighting for his place for club and country. He ended a recent goal drought in United’s recent Europa League clash at Fenerbahce and also impressed in a 3-1 win at Swansea City on the Sunday before the international break. On the international front, he was dropped to the bench for last month’s qualifier in Slovenia.

“I wouldn’t start Wayne in this game anyway, so we’ll decide which route to go,” Southgate said at the time. “At times too much of that responsibility has laid with Wayne and we need to share that. There are leaders already and other potential leaders who I think can step forward. And once you have a team full of those players then we’ll have a lot of success.”</s>Joe Hart has admitted he was so pumped up for matches at Euro 2016 that his performances may have suffered and is reassessing how he channels his passion.

The Torino goalkeeper, yet to concede a goal in the World Cup qualifying campaign, will start Tuesday’s friendly against Spain as Gareth Southgate completes his four-match interim stewardship of the senior side. Wayne Rooney withdrew from the squad on Monday night with a minor knee injury, with Jamie Vardy expected to play a part up front and Jordan Henderson taking the captaincy.

Hart is braced to be busier on the occasion of his 68th cap than he was against Scotland last Friday, but has insisted he is a calmer character than in France. His pre-match histrionics at the tournament, screaming at players and himself, fell flat with high-profile errors against Wales and Iceland.

The 29-year-old spoke about his approach at length with Southgate before last month’s qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia, when he was outstanding. “I’m always trying to learn and adapt, and obviously the European Championship wasn’t my finest hour,” said Hart. “I needed to have a think and pick apart how I played and what I did, and maybe change a few things speaking to the people who count. Seeking advice. Even with Gareth, we spoke about it.

“I’ve got a lot of energy, a lot of passion. Questionably, it could have been too much. But there are ways of channelling that. I’m constantly changing and evolving, trying to be the best I can be, and learning from things that didn’t go too well is definitely a way of doing that. There’s nothing wrong with [being] positive. Being passionate and proud of your country is definitely a positive. But there are just different ways of channelling it. I’ve looked into that, and hopefully it will help.”

The goalkeeper, who is learning Italian to help his adjustment to life at Torino during his loan spell from Manchester City, sought advice from friends, family and others close to him when deciding to change his approach. “I’ve got plenty of people I can turn to, a core of people around me,” he said. “Everyone does it as you get older: you have people you trust, people you listen to. I’m really grateful to the people I’ve got. I’ve always said I might be wrong or I might be right to trust in these people, but I do. And as a team we try and grow. And that includes managers and coaches and players and friends.”

Vardy, who came on for the last 15 minutes against Scotland but has not scored for Leicester City since September, is set to start for the first time since the frustrating draw with Slovakia in Saint-Étienne in June. There may be a role, too, for Jesse Lingard as part of the attacking trio at the striker’s back, with Nathaniel Clyne recalled at right-back but Ryan Bertrand unlikely to be risked having sat out training, along with Rooney, after suffering a minor injury. Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United and Burnley’s Michael Keane will expect to gain their first caps but neither will start.

Southgate, the overwhelming favourite to be appointed England’s manager on a permanent basis, will ask his players to express themselves against Spain rather than merely “go solid, soak up pressure, hit them on the break and play all our experienced players”. He is prepared for his charges to take risks in possession and make the occasional mistake as part of a long-term development of the team’s style.

“I’m 100% committed to my team and I believe 100% in the players in front of me,” said Hart, who watched John Stones in particular risk surrendering the ball in dangerous areas against Scotland. “The way we play and the way we build up does carry an element of risk, but there are a lot of benefits to it. And even when we did lose the ball in certain situations on Friday, the power and athleticism and desire to get back …

“If we didn’t have that then maybe I’d be thinking: ‘We need to be careful here’ but I know people are going to commit. Scotland didn’t have any free shots, even when we lost the ball 20 yards out and there was potentially a shot on goal. There were three people hunting them down.”
Scotland is considering launching its own passports to maintain the decades-old freedom of movement between Scotland and the rest of the European Union, even if it is lost by England and Wales.