ALISTER Jack has defended Boris Johnson’s post- Brexit immigration plans despite his own party's MSPs reportedly being livid at the proposals.
Writing in the Herald, the Secretary of State for Scotland insisted that the points-based scheme would be “good news for the Scottish economy”.
He wrote: “As we prepare for a bright future outside the EU, it means we will be able to recruit the people we need to do the jobs our economy relies upon.
“Businesses across our key economic sectors will continue to be able to attract the right workers. I’m confident they will continue to thrive.”
The minister claimed the Government’s decision “to redefine what a ‘skilled’ job means” will be of benefit to agriculture and fishing sectors.
He wrote: “For all those jobs, and many more, employers will be able to recruit workers from overseas. The system will be less restrictive than at present.”
READ MORE: Scottish Tories 'livid' about Boris Johnson’s immigration proposals
The Tory’s comments are at odds with what both farming and seafood trade bodies have said.
Both the NFU and the Scottish Seafood Association have said they are now considering backing the Scottish Government’s plans to devolve immigration laws.
Jack also insisted there would be “other routes for people we’ve often welcomed into our important hospitality and tourism sectors,” though he doesn’t spell out what those are.
Most overseas workers in Scotland’s hospitality sector earn well below the £26,500 salary threshold. Even if the Government cut the threshold to £20,480 it would still be far higher than average salary in the sector.
On Wednesday, Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw said the plans were a “work in progress”.
He said that he would lobby Johnson to push for a migration system “which is appropriate to Scotland’s needs and our demographics and economy”.
He added: “It’s a work in progress and I very much hope and intend that we will have a migration process, in the final analysis and detail, which is appropriate to Scotland.”
Asked if the UK system was wrong, he told The Herald: “I don’t think what’s being proposed by UK ministers actually has been properly understood in all its detail. Let’s just, over the next few days, wait and see what becomes available.
“I am in ongoing discussions with UK ministers. I hope to see the Prime Minister when I’m in London shortly and I expect we will have a migration system which is appropriate to Scotland’s needs.”
Asked about the SNP’s suggestion of a Scottish visa, he said: “The answer is to have a migration system which is appropriate to Scotland’s needs. I think we are still digesting the Scottish Government’s paper as well, which we actually as Scottish Conservatives believe had quite a sensible analysis of the situation and there were some sensible suggestions made in that too.”
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