Westminster denies looking at Scotland-specific immigration visa to plug employment gaps

The Home Office has denied plans are being drawn up for a new Scottish work visa which could see international workers brought directly to Scotland.

Labour MP John Grady, who represents Glasgow East at Westminster, claimed home secretary Yvette Cooper was “determined” to introduce a separate immigration system for Scotland, The Times has reported. The concept of a Scotland-specific visa has been raised previously as a solution to falling populations - particularly in rural areas - and employment gaps.

Immigration is currently not a devolved issue, with those wanting to move to Scotland from abroad subject to the same Home Office rules as those looking to emigrate to the UK.

Mr Grady told a Westminster Hall debate that Labour was committed to bringing more workers to Scotland and said the UK government was already working on proposals.

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“Scottish Labour and the Labour Party are in favour of bringing talented people into Scotland, and the Scottish government are welcome to work with us as we seek to ensure that that takes place,” he said.

“As I understand it, the home secretary is determined to ensure that it does, and I also understand that the migration advisory committee is looking at the issue carefully.”

Earlier this year, the hospitality industry added its voice to calls for the introduction of a separate immigration scheme for Scotland, saying Scottish businesses are finding unique challenges in the numbers of people available to work, particularly to fill vacant roles for chefs, front-of-house staff and in restaurant management.

The Building A New Scotland paper, published by the Scottish Government last year, set out proposals for a migration policy if Scotland were to become independent. The plans set out how a new “Live in Scotland” visa would support migration to rural and island communities to help to address depopulation.

But despite the intervention of the Scottish Labour MP, the Home Office has denied it is drawing up Scotland-specific plans, with a source telling the Scotsman the suggestion is “categorically untrue”.

The SNP’s Scotland and foreign affairs spokesperson, Stephen Gethins, has accused the UK government of “big promises and no delivery”.

He said: "During the election campaign Scottish Labour claimed a Labour government was open to a Scottish visa, but now we know the truth and it's the same old Westminster story - big promises and no delivery. 

SNP MP Stephen Gethins

"This is incredibly embarrassing for Scottish Labour, but it's the Scottish economy and our NHS that will pay the price for this chaos as we continue to face crippling staff shortages thanks to Westminster's hard Brexit and immigration policies.

"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." Mr Gethins will tomorrow seek an amendment to the Scotland Act to enable the Scottish Government to establish the scheme. The Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP’s move will come as part of a ten minute rule bill that the SNP MP will move on Thursday.

He said: “A Scottish visa will allow us to tackle the Brexit-born staff shortages that have inflicted pain and hardship upon our NHS and Scottish businesses.

“It’s no secret that our social care sector is crying out for workers and who can forget the dreadful scenes of fruit left to rot in the fields of Angus because of Westminster’s bloody-minded anti-immigration policies. 

“SNP MPs will always demand better for Scotland and that includes this reasonable and practical step to support our economy and our NHS - I urge Scottish Labour MPs to back this bill and join SNP MPs in putting Scotland’s interests first.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “This is not government policy and not something the Home Secretary is considering.”