One intriguing possibility here is whether, if Scotland moved rapidly to independence, it might join the EU while rUK was still in talks with the EU on Brexit. If independence took two years (for the second independence referendum and separation from the UK after the referendum) plus one year for talks with the EU – and two years for ratification of an accession treaty (if required) – then the whole process would take three to five years. While rUK talks with the EU on Brexit might take longer than that to complete, in terms of revising a range of laws, trade treaties etc, the political pressures, from both sides, would be likely to be for Brexit to occur fairly quickly, with transition phases after Brexit, rather than have the UK as a formal member of the EU – still with voting powers – taking 5-10 years to leave. In any event, if rUK-EU talks were still under way when Scotland was ready to be an independent member state, the rUK would still be an EU member state so it could potentially veto Scotland joining before its talks were completed.