The ‘UK government is not considering Scottish visa to attract migrants,’ according to the BBC.
The news came after SNP politicians suggested a change to the law which would allow the Holyrood government to establish its own visa and seasonal worker scheme in response to requests from industries including horticulture north of the border.
A previous proposal from the Scottish government for a pilot scheme which would exempt certain businesses from UK rules on hiring overseas workers was blocked by the former Conservative UK government. Following a Westminster debate on 16 October, a UK government source told the BBC, “We are not at all considering a Scottish visa system.”
However, Arbroath and Broughty Ferry SNP MP Stephen Gethins, whose constituency includes several leading soft fruit growers, has tabled a bill seeking an amendment to the Scotland Act 1998 to enable the Scottish government to set up a Scottish visa.
He explained, “The SNP is absolutely clear that we need a Scottish visa to address our demographic challenges and the damage caused by Brexit – it’s now up to Scottish Labour MPs to back us in those calls and put Scotland’s interests first.”
As reported by the BBC, Scottish Labour’s general election manifesto pledged to reform the UK migration advisory committee and to ensure migration and skills policies ‘work for every part of the UK’, while ending long-term reliance on overseas workers in some parts of the economy.’
