'There’s too much else going on to worry about instead of another Scottish referendum'

Just over 55 per cent voted to stay in the UK, with just under 45 per cent in favour of leaving.

Since then the political landscape has shifted radically. The general election the following year might have returned a Conservative government for the UK, but the Scottish National Party won a landslide within Scotland.

They took 56 of the 59 seats, leaving the UK-wide parties of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives with only one seat each north of the border.

And when Britain voted to leave the European Union, the division opened up even wider. Most of England and Wales voted for leaving but Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay.

If it wants to remain within the EU, Scottish nationalists argue, then Scotland will have to quit the UK.

And so, thanks to Brexit, a second independence referendum – being dubbed “indyref2” – could be on the cards.

Should this trouble Cumbria?

The people of the areas closest to the border have a unique perspective on the issue. Many of them identify as “borderers” rather than English or Scottish.

People in Longtown may feel more of an affinity to towns such as Gretna, Annan, Lockerbie or Langholm than to further away settlements like Penrith, Workington, Kendal or Barrow – even if the border puts Gretna and its neighbours in a different country.

One proud borderer is Gordon Routledge, author, vice-chairman of Arthuret parish council and a lifelong resident of Longtown.

“In this area we don’t really recognise that there is a border,” he explains. “People are going backwards and forwards across it every day and don’t take a lot of notice of it.

“Border people who live and work together will see it differently from those in Edinburgh or London.”

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Mr Routledge is firmly of the view that the two nations should remain united.

He also questions whether there’s any appetite for another referendum.

“If Scotland really want to hold one then they should be allowed to, but I think there will be a lot of people in Scotland who don’t,” he said.

“It’s not something I would be looking forward to. I don’t think people feel there would be a lot to gain.”

And he adds: “There’s too much else going on to worry about instead of another referendum.

"We need to be working together if we want to get the best deal for Britain at the moment.

“I don’t think this a good time for splitting up.”

Stuart Klosinski If Scotland were to become independent, the effects could be felt beyond the immediate border areas, as Stuart Klosinski, a consultant with Furness Economic Development Forum, argues.

Scottish companies with branches in south Cumbria will suddenly find themselves operating abroad – without ever having moved.

“We have got firms like Barrhead Travel, which is Scottish-owned, based in Furness. I know they are taking a keen interest in what the outcome might be.

“There are a considerable number of companies in Furness that are based in Scotland that might find changed circumstances.”

One of the possible outcomes could bring a distinct advantage for south Cumbria, Mr Klosinksi adds.

“When the last debate was taking place the Government said it might have to consider building its warships in England.”

And just as lengthy talks will have to take place before Britain exits the EU, so there would have to be with a Scottish exit from the UK.

“The effect would depend on the outcome of negotiations, and what the terms of independence would be,” Mr Klosinski adds.

David Jackson Walk around Carlisle city centre when it’s busy with shoppers and you’ll hear plenty of Scottish voices. Would an international border between England and Scotland become a barrier to them?

David Jackson, commercial director of The Lanes shopping centre, doesn’t think so.

The idea that shoppers from Dumfries, Annan, Lockerbie or Gretna would stay away afterwards seems improbable.

“It’s about convenience,” Mr Jackson says. “It’s a much longer journey to Glasgow. People in Dumfries and Annan can probably get most of the things they can’t get locally in Carlisle. I don’t personally think it would be a problem.”

But if an independent Scotland adopted a different currency? “Some people would say they have a different currency already. Further south there are shops that won’t take Scottish banknotes.

“If Scotland ended up adopting the euro I’m sure shops here would accept it.”

But he warns: “If independence led to Scotland having a different level of VAT or corporation tax, that might have some impact. But that would be very much longer term.”

And even if the landscape has changed lately, the towns and potential customers of south-west Scotland aren’t any further away.

“We don’t even call it a border,” Mr Jackson says. “We call it Dumfries and Galloway.”

Lynda Denton What businesses dislike most is uncertainty, and for those closest to the border the prospect of another referendum is creating it.

This is what worries Lynda Denton, head of sales and marketing at Gretna Green Ltd.

“Like a couple who separate, uncertainty prevails with each party not knowing how the other will behave and family members are left feeling insecure,” she says.

“So with that analogy in mind I, like many people in the Gretna Green area, want this uncertainty to end.”

But she doesn’t see that happening.

“The simple fact is that the SNP will not rest until the decision of a referendum delivers what is, in their minds, the right vote.

“They will not be happy until that day comes, so while they hold power we will continue to be subjected to this uncertainty.”

Ms Denton also points out: “No matter what your view, living on the border is bound to throw up practical issues if we were an independent country.

“That is what I feel is the hardest thing for anyone in this part of Scotland, or England, to consider.”

Like Gordon Routledge she believes there are other issues we should be thinking about.

“Given this is the SNP’s main policy, a lot of important matters are eclipsed by this. And the manipulation of any political topic to bring the debate right back to Scottish independence is tedious.

“I feel that people just want this put to rest, which we understood it would be after the last referendum,” she adds.