The UK government has ruled out the establishment of a Scottish immigration visa system aimed at attracting overseas workers. This decision comes as the Scottish National Party (SNP) pushes for legislative changes to allow the Scottish Parliament to create such a scheme.
During a Westminster debate on Tuesday, Scottish Labour MP John Grady emphasized that Sir Keir Starmer’s administration is committed to bringing “talented people” to Scotland. However, a UK government source confirmed to the BBC, “We are not at all considering a Scottish visa system.”
Previously, the Scottish government proposed a pilot scheme that would exempt certain businesses from UK regulations on hiring foreign workers, but this was blocked by the former Conservative government. There are suggestions that a separate visa system could be structured around distinct tax codes in Scotland.
SNP MP Stephen Gethins plans to introduce a bill on Thursday that seeks to amend the Scotland Act 1998, allowing the Scottish government to implement its own visa system. He argued that this would help address staff shortages in sectors like healthcare and social care, which have been exacerbated by Brexit. Gethins noted that rural areas are particularly affected, with crops left unharvested due to a lack of workers.
“The SNP believes a Scottish visa is essential to tackle demographic challenges and the negative impacts of Brexit,” he stated, urging Scottish Labour MPs to support this initiative.
In response, John Grady from Scottish Labour reiterated that both Scottish and UK Labour parties are in favor of attracting skilled individuals to Scotland, although he stressed the need for an effective approach. He mentioned that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is keen on addressing these issues.
Torcuil Crichton, another Labour MP, supported calls for tailored immigration policies for different regions of the UK. He highlighted that depopulation poses significant economic challenges in rural areas like the Western Isles and argued for strategies to attract more residents.
Experts have pointed out that immigration is crucial for counteracting Scotland’s aging population and declining birth rates. Last year, immigration was the primary driver behind Scotland’s population growth, which reached its highest rate since the 1940s. However, deaths exceeded births by a record margin.
Scottish Labour’s election manifesto included promises to reform migration policies to better serve all parts of the UK while reducing reliance on foreign workers in certain sectors. In recent statements, Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, expressed his preference for maintaining a unified UK immigration system rather than creating separate systems for Scotland.
Sarwar indicated that both governments could collaborate on specific immigration challenges, such as labor shortages in various industries. He also referenced the Fresh Talent Scheme introduced by Tony Blair’s government in 2005, which allowed international students in Scotland to work for up to two years post-graduation—a policy that was discontinued in 2011.
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