Gethins urges Labour to back Scottish visa bill – Daily Business

MPs are being urged to vote for a Scottish visa as the Commons considers a bill today being promoted by the SNP.

The Devolution (Immigration) (Scotland) Bill has its Second Reading and the bill, tabled by SNP MP Stephen Gethins would amend the Scotland Act 1998 to grant the Scottish Parliament legislative competence over immigration powers.

He says a Scottish visa to attract vital workers to strengthen Scotland’s industries and public services.

During the UK general election, Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie promised voters that a Labour government would be open to introducing a Scottish visa and devolving immigration powers to Scotland.

However, those promises were cast into doubt when Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appeared to reject the plan following Labour’s Westminster victory last year.

In response, Scottish hospitality and tourism chiefs criticised the Labour government, with Leon Thompson, executive director of UK Hospitality Scotland, commenting that the snub was “very, very disappointing”.

Mr Thomson added “There needs to be some further conversations at how we have arrived at a situation where it [a Scottish visa] is not being considered at all when it was part of the conversation before the election. Nobody expected anything like this to happen quickly but to see it taken off the table altogether will be a blow to the sector.”

The SNP, with backing from stakeholders across the Scottish economy, has long called for a Scottish visa to address the damaging labour shortages caused by the Westminster government’s Brexit and hostile migration policies.

The loss of EU freedom of movement, in particular, has led to labour shortages in Scotland’s NHS and key sectors including agriculture, hospitality, construction and higher education – damaging Scotland’s economic growth and prosperity.

The SNP has also made the case that a Scottish visa, and devolution of migration powers, would boost the Scottish economy by addressing Scotland’s demographic challenges. Without these powers, the working age population of Scotland, and the overall population, are projected to decline. 

Think tank Reform Scotland, chaired by former Labour First Minister Lord McConnell, has also backed an independent Scottish visa scheme writing before the election that there is a “danger Scotland’s needs will be overlooked.”

During the Brexit referendum, Tory cabinet secretary Michael Gove promised Scotland would be given greater control over immigration if the UK voted to leave the EU.

Mr Gethins said: “Today, MPs must do the right thing for Scotland – and finally vote for a Scottish visa to boost Scotland’s economy and public services, and mitigate the damage caused by Brexit.

“These powers are essential for Scotland’s economy – and, yet, they have been talked about for far too long with no action from the UK government.

“The UK government’s own analysis shows Westminster’s Brexit and hostile migration policies are not working for Scotland. Brexit has caused damaging staffing shortages across the NHS and key Scottish industries, including agriculture, hospitality, construction and higher education.

“There is wide consensus that Scotland needs a tailored system to secure our future prosperity. Without these powers, Scotland will be at a significant disadvantage in meeting the challenges our economy and public services face.

“The Scottish Government has published detailed proposals for how a Scottish visa could work, so it’s now up to the Labour Party to engage and move forward in the best interests of our NHS and our economy.

“During the election, the Labour Party promised voters it would be open to a Scottish visa and devolving the powers Scotland needs. I urge Scottish Labour Party MPs to keep, not break, their promises by voting for this bill today.”