[JoeP]

Oh they probably can. It's politicians who are saying they may not be able to, it is not a foregone conclusion, etc - and who trusts what politicians say?

I doubt there would be any limitation on free movement of labour. The issue is around budget and currency and central banks and debt. The big shots of the EU don't want another Greece/Ireland/Portugal/Spain getting into trouble and needing bailing out. And they don't want other potential applicants to say "but you let Scotland in without any of these controls you're demanding from us".

This is outside my real understanding though ...