Scottish independence: Salmond’s immigration vow

Alex Salmond was attacked yesterday over the SNP's economic plans in the event of independence. Picture: Jane Barlow

A SEPARATE Scotland would have more liberal immigration policies than the UK, Alex Salmond has claimed.

The SNP leader told MSPs an independent Scotland would not “fling out talented people who want to work in this country”.

Mr Salmond was attacked at First Minister’s Questions yesterday over the SNP’s economic plans in the event of independence, after a think tank claimed a separate nation would need to cut spending or increase taxes.

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont highlighted the report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) that said an independent Scotland would face a “fiscal gap” of 1.9 per cent of national income, compared with 0.8 per cent for the UK.

Mr Salmond told MSPs the IFS had made clear that a different path could be taken, as he insisted an independent Scotland would take a different approach to Westminster on immigration.