JUDITH MacNeil settled in Scotland 14 years ago, but is now considering a new life in Denmark as she bids to escape Brexit to save her career.
She originally moved from Vienna to the south of England with her former husband, and came north of the Border after her divorce. The 49-year-old interpreter, who speaks German, English, Italian and French, said she and her partner Graham Stark, an economist, would stay in Scotland if it became independent.
READ MORE: 'Brexodus': EU nationals to leave Scotland unless indyref2 called
However, she fears without a referendum in the near future, their best course of action is to investigate moving elsewhere.
“If Scotland becomes independent we would stay. Scotland could become a lot richer if it was independent and I know it would be more egalitarian.
“Everyone knows Brexit is going to be bad for the economy,” she said. “I would love to see an independence referendum soon. If there was a second EU referendum, I think people in the UK would vote to stay. I think this would be good for the UK, but maybe not good for Scottish independence.
“My fear is that the Scottish economy will suffer really badly from Brexit. The less it suffers the quicker an independent Scotland would be on its feet. In the aftermath of Brexit my line of work is probably going to disappear.
“I don’t want to go back to Austria. Graham can work from anywhere in the world and I can find work in Europe. We thought of Denmark as I can get work there and it is very egalitarian. Reports suggest it’s one of the happiest countries in the world.”
'I couldn't wait until indyref2'
ALEXANDRA Junnikkala moved to Scotland after she received racist abuse while living in the north of England following the Brexit vote.
The 43-year-old executive assistant, orginally from Finland, was sworn at on a train, told to ‘go back home’ and was even refused entry to a nightclub.
She settled in Scotland in 2016, but moved to Spain last week after finding a new job amid fears for her future in the UK after Brexit.
“It’s heartbreaking, because I felt that Scotland was my home and I was settled down and planned a future there, but if the UK cannot guarantee a basic human rights for every tax payer, security, stability and work, it’s not a place to stay – especially when as an EU citizen, I have so many other possibilities to live and work,” she said.
“I hoped and I still hope – that Scotland will go for independence and gets out of all the problems. It’s a golden opportunity for Scottish people, but unfortunately I couldn’t wait it anymore and risk my life staying if it’s not going to happen.”
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