THE SNP have condemned the Tories’ outright rejection of proposals for a Scottish visa scheme as they called on the UK Government to end their “long-held hostile” approach to immigration.
The appeal came ahead of an SNP Opposition Day debate in Westminster tomorrow, in which the party’s MPs will urge the Home Secretary to “engage positively” with the Scottish Government before introducing the Immigration Bill.
Plans for a post-Brexit Scottish visa won cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament, as well as the backing of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, Federation of Small Business, and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
However, the scheme was dismissed by Boris Johnson, despite being accused of having failed to read the document. This came after then-justice secretary Michael Gove stated in June 2016 that it would “for Scotland to decide” on immigration numbers to the country after Brexit.
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SNP shadow immigration spokesperson Stuart McDonald said the comment “adds to the long list of broken Tory promises”.
He added: “When the Scottish Government set out its plans for a Scottish visa scheme within a UK-wide system, it received support from a diverse range of bodies and organisations. However, instead of engaging with the Scottish Government the Tories once again highlighted their utter contempt for Scotland by simply dismissing it, and with the Prime Minister having not even read it.”
McDonald continued: “It’s high time the UK Government woke up to the reality of its damaging and reckless Brexit plans and the impact they will have on Scotland.
“Rather than pursuing policies that will harm Scotland and the UK’s economic and social needs, the Tories must end their long-held hostile approach to immigration.”
The SNP MP went on: “There is no doubt that Westminster is intent on shutting out Scotland’s voice and interests. With unstoppable momentum for an independence referendum, it’s clear that the people of Scotland must have a choice over their future as an independent country.”
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