NICOLA Sturgeon’s key demand for immigration to be devolved as part of the Brexit process has been firmly rejected by the UK Government with ministers suggesting a separate migrant policy for Scotland would be “inappropriate”.
Just days before the first crunch PM-FM Brexit meeting in London, David Mundell, the Scottish secretary, told MPs on the Commons Scottish affairs committee that he fully accepted Scotland needed in-migration to prosper and recognised the great contribution generations of migrants had made to the socio-economic wellbeing of the nation.
He pointed to how the Scottish Government had several policy levers to attract migrants to Scotland and shape the working age population in line with local needs such as new tax-raising powers, education and workforce training.
Read more: Draft bill for second independence referendum to be published
The SNP’s Pete Wishart, the committee chairman, asked if the UK Government accepted Scotland had demographic challenges and immigration requirements that were different to the rest of the UK.
But Mr Mundell said: “If you are asking me if Scotland needs a different immigration system, then obviously the answer to that question is No.”
Robert Goodwill, the immigration minister, pointed out how there was projected slower population growth in Scotland than the rest of the UK but then stressed that he agreed with Mr Mundell, saying: “Having a separate immigration policy for Scotland is not something we feel would be appropriate.”
Chris Law, the SNP MP for Dundee West, noted how, during the EU referendum campaign, leading Leave campaigner Michael Gove, who was justice secretary at the time, offered a Brexit “sweetener” by suggesting Scotland would have new immigration powers.
Read more: Draft bill for second independence referendum to be published
Mr Mundell, noting how the campaigns were separate from government, declared: “Michael Gove did not make that statement on behalf of either the previous or current government.”
Later, Mr Law accused the UK Government of “confusion and muddle,” stressing how Mr Gove had “promised” how one of the benefits of Brexit for Scotland would be that it would have its own immigration policy.
“It was deeply disappointing that Scotland voted to remain and yet there was no sign from the Scottish secretary or the immigration minister...of that commitment at all on this absolutely key issue for Scottish economic growth. At least they didn’t write this promise on the side of a bus,’’ he added.
In earlier evidence, his Nationalist colleague Margaret Ferrier questioned why the four universities chosen for the post-study work visa pilot scheme - which allow students to remain and work in the UK for two years after graduating - were all in England, suggesting it would have made better sense for each to have come from the four nations of the UK.
Mr Goodwill stressed how the criteria was based “purely on the data” ie on those colleges with the consistently low level of visa refusals. “They just happened to be all in England,” he said.
But Mr Mundell, who stressed he accepted the pilot universities were done on “objective criteria”, pledged: “If the pilot is successful, then it will happen in Scotland and I will champion it happening in Scotland; I give that absolute undertaking.”
Read more: Draft bill for second independence referendum to be published
Meantime in the Commons during an SNP-led debate on migration, Ms Sturgeon was accused of double standards after Joanna Cherry, the Nationalists’ home affairs spokeswoman, denounced UK ministers for using migrants as “bargaining chips” in the Brexit talks.
Mr Goodwill interjected, however, to claim that, during the 2014 independence referendum campaign, the SNP leader had herself suggested EU nationals were bargaining chips.
The Home Office minister claimed the then deputy first minister had cast doubt on the future of 160,000 EU citizens living in Scotland by saying they would "lose their right to stay here" if the country were outside Europe.
But Ms Cherry replied: “There is absolutely no question that the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon or her predecessor[Alex Salmond] ever threatened EU nationals with not being part of Scottish society.
"Our policy has been clear for many, many years; we want an independent Scotland inside the European Union with equal rights for all living in Scotland.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel