BORIS Johnson’s new immigration plans will be “devastating” for Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned.
The UK Government revealed details of its new points-based system late on Tuesday night. UK borders will effectively be closed to all non-skilled workers and all migrants will have to speak English.
Anyone wanting to come to the UK to work must have a job offer with a salary threshold of £25,600 – though a salary “floor” of £20,480 will be acceptable in special cases where there might be a shortage, such as in nursing.
There will be no route for self-employed people coming into the UK.
In a round of TV interviews yesterday, Home Secretary Priti Patel said that the new system would require businesses to train up more British workers.
She said eight million people between the ages of 16 and 64 were “economically inactive” and could take on those jobs where the UK has recently relied on foreign labour. However, those eight million people are made up mostly of students, the long-term unemployed, the retired and those with care responsibilities.
READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: Immigration points system will alienate Union vote
Tracy Black, the director of CBI Scotland, said the proposals would “pose real challenges for businesses in Scotland”.
She said key sectors, “in particular our vital hospitality, tourism, agriculture and care industries”, would be concerned about how they can recruit people across all levels of skill they need.
She added: “Against a backdrop of a highly competitive labour market and a declining working age population, employers in Scotland know that hiring from overseas and investing in the skills of their workforce and new technologies is not an ‘either or’ choice – both are needed to drive the economy forward.”
Scotland Office Minister Douglas Ross, above, claimed the proposals would be beneficial for Scotland. The MP commented: “The new system announced today will make sure our economy attracts and retains the best talent from around the world, welcoming people to Scotland and the whole UK based on how they can help grow our country.”
That was disputed by Richard Lochhead, the MSP who shares his constituency: “Yet it’s his constituency, Moray, that’ll be hit harder than most given that 60% of jobs are below the so called ‘low skilled’ salary threshold and also given the greater need for a working age population in Moray compared to most places. Is he just unaware of that or what?”
Ross was one of the few Scottish Tories talking up the immigration plans, most others were keeping their thoughts to themselves.
Martin Geissler, the host of BBC’s Scotland, tweeted: “We’ve bid for a @Conservatives or @ScotTories representative to come on @BBCScotNine this evening to discuss their flagship immigration policy.
“Asked Home Sec, Home Office Minister, Scot Sec, Under SoS, @Jackson_Carlaw or any Scottish MP or MSP. Not one of them can/will do it.”
Responding, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “That’s because the Tory immigration policy can’t be justified – it would have a devastating impact on Scotland & the opposition to it from all sectors tells its own story.
“It’s an acid test for @ScotTories now – will they stand up for Scotland or, as usual, side with Westminster?”
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