Calls for more flexible Scots immigration policy rejected

Published on Monday 9 November 2009 21:51

HOME Secretary Alan Johnson yesterday rejected proposals for a more flexible immigration system to be introduced for Scotland, to allow the country to meet its specific needs.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Glasgow North East, Mr Johnson said a regional-based immigration points system in the UK would be "impossible" because of the complete freedom to travel in Britain.

His comments pre-empted a meeting between Scottish external affairs minister Mike Russell and Mr Johnson's immigration minister, Phil Woolas, in London over giving Scotland more powers on immigration.

Mr Russell had hoped to secure concessions to recognise specific demographic problems north of the Border, particularly with an ageing population.

However, despite the opposition of the Home Secretary, Mr Russell claimed the meeting had been a success.

Mr Woolas agreed to a scheme to bring skilled workers to Scotland, changing the UK Border Agency's website to promote Scotland and helping Scottish businesses to make representations to the Migration Advisory Committee on where they are experiencing skills shortages.

Mr Johnson raised the immigration issue shortly after BNP leader Nick Griffin made a brief appearance in Glasgow North East before being chased off by anti-fascist protesters.

But Mr Johnson dismissed concerns the far-right party would do well in the by-election.

"The BNP are like bluebottles flying to a corpse wherever they think there is a problem with immigration or ethnicity," he said. "But Scotland is not fertile territory for fascist politics."

Mr Johnson repeated his call for the case to be made for immigration, claiming politicians "need to reach out to the moderate majority" who understand the need for some immigration but have concerns about the strain on public services when immigration is too high.

The Home Secretary was the second UK Cabinet minister to visit the constituency yesterday, with Chancellor Alistair Darling arriving earlier.

Mr Darling was even seen to crack a joke as he handed over a Royal Bank of Scotland 5 note for a bag of apples.

"That's from my bank," he said, referring to the taxpayer's large stake in RBS.

Meanwhile, Labour's odds of winning the by-election were cut to 4-1 yesterday as a new poll gave them a 14 per cent lead in Westminster voting intentions in Scotland, giving the party 39 per cent compared to the SNP's 25 per cent. However, SNP candidate David Kerr claimed his party was "closing the gap".

UK Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who was also in the constituency, saw his party's support at just 12 per cent in the TNS-BMRB poll.

But he insisted that, despite having less than half the support of the 2005 general election, his party could hold on to its seats.

He claimed the recent leadership changes with a young top team including himself and Scottish leader Tavish Scott needed more time to bed in.

However, he admitted that the party did not have high expectations in the by-election and would not "

build castles in the sky".