NICOLA Sturgeon has come under fire in a bizarre newspaper article that seems to blame her for uncertainty over immigration in Scotland.
Magnus Linklater, a former editor of the Scotsman, has penned an opinion piece that collects the negative experiences of EU nationals living in Britain following the Brexit vote.
They range from antagonism to the overwhelming bureaucracy of the Home Office.
READ MORE: Fox ridiculed for embarrassing Brexit U-turn
The odd angle of the article, however, is that Linklater seems to lay the responsibility to resolve these issues with Nicola Sturgeon – despite the fact that immigration remains a reserved issue at Westminster.
Taking to Twitter, the First Minister stated: "This is actually pretty outrageous. If Magnus Linklater wants the SNP to solve the problems faced by EU nationals as a result of Brexit, I look forward to him getting full behind the campaign to devolve immigration powers to @ScotParl immediately."
This is actually pretty outrageous. If Magnus Linklater wants the SNP to solve the problems faced by EU nationals as a result of Brexit, I look forward to him getting full behind the campaign to devolve immigration powers to @ScotParl immediately. https://t.co/q2DYmleSbz
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) 6 August 2018
In his column, Linklater seems to eschew basic facts, such as acknowledging that Scotland's economy will be hammered by EU nationals leaving yet the UK is interested only in a UK-wide approach to immigration.
No needs-based tailoring of the system need apply.
Linklater has since tweeted, via the newspaper's account, that "despite the headline" of his column, he did not blame the SNP for undermining the status of EU citizens. He added: "But I do think SNP has to decide whether it really wants Scotland to join Europe rather than just hovering on the outskirts."
"Despite the headline, I'm not blaming SNP for undermining the status of EU citizens in UK. That's the Home Office. But I do think SNP has to decide whether it really wants Scotland to join Europe rather than just hovering on the outskirts." - Magnus Linklater https://t.co/ryXzo7Nsbh
— The Times Scotland (@thetimesscot) August 6, 2018
The First Minister has since responded to that tweet, saying that if the former Scotsman editor is advocating independence, she would welcome such a discussion.
Is Magnus now advocating Independence in Europe? If so, it’s a very welcome conversion! https://t.co/TV7e6aS2g0
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 6, 2018
Responses below Sturgeon's earlier tweet also demonstrate how out of touch the author sounds in the article.
One user shared that they would have loved to stay in Scotland after completing their studies, but couldn't after the scrapping of the post-study work visa.
They wrote: "Would have loved to stay and contribute to the Scottish economy after receiving a world-class master's degree from the @EdinburghUni. However, thanks to the scrapping of post-study work visas this was impossible. Scotland is and remains a wonderful place to work and live."
Would have loved to stay and contribute to the Scottish economy after receiving a world-class master's degree from the @EdinburghUni . However, thanks to the scrapping of post-study work visas this was impossible. Scotland is and remains a wonderful place to work and live.
— absolute_pacifist (@new_pacifist) 6 August 2018
Another account suggested that the article had gone out of it's way to avoid the elephant in the room: that to address the issues Linklater raised would require constitutional change.
READ MORE: This Scottish Tory MP REALLY doesn't like May's Chequers Brexit plan
They wrote: "An example of how some members of the Chattering Classes will tie themselves in intellectual knots before they’ll admit that Scotland needs fundamental constitutional change?"
An example of how some members of the Chattering Classes will tie themselves in intellectual knots before they’ll admit that Scotland needs fundamental constitutional change?😡
— markrowantree (@markrowantree) 6 August 2018
As the Brexit situation continues to deteriorate, we think Linklater may be pointing in the wrong direction.
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