THE UK Government must “urgently” engage with Scottish ministers on its immigration reforms, MSPs have said.
On Thursday, the Scottish Government led a debate on migration calling for the needs of Scotland’s public services, businesses and communities to be “supported, rather than harmed” by the incoming reforms.
MSPs voted 67 in favour of the Scottish Government’s motion, moved by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and 42 against.
A Scottish Tory amendment calling for a “balance” to be struck on migration and “reducing the numbers of illegal migrants who place added pressures on the welfare system and public services”, did not pass.
Scottish Labour’s amendment in support of the UK Government’s immigration plans also fell.
In May, the Labour Government published an immigration white paper that contained sweeping changes to the system. The plans include ending automatic resettlement for those living in the UK for five years, moving to a decade, that migrants are required to display a higher standard of English, and an end to visa routes for care workers.
Opening the debate, Forbes told MSPs: “Migration is predicted to be the sole driver of population growth for decades to come.
“Right now, we need people to come here to live and work, to bolster our working age population.”
She said: “When I was first elected, I was often struck by the fact that there was a cross party support for the post graduate visa from both the Conservatives and Labour, a tailored nuanced approach with cross party support, and that's what we want to see again. UK ministers could choose to support us on this.”
Forbes added: “Migration enriches our society. It makes a net contribution to our economy, our public services and our public finances, it's the fertilizer that helps us to thrive, innovate and grow.
“In the face of these demographic challenges, we can't push them away.
“There are some things that we can do within devolved powers, but what we can't do is expand the workforce completely without control over that. And so I invite members from across the chamber to join us in making this call today.”
MSP Liz Smith, Tory spokesperson for social security, said that debates around migration are generally based on “increasingly unhelpful and damaging rhetoric which can border on racism and which clearly helps absolutely no one at all”.
“I agree that the current system of immigration controls is not working,” she added.
“In particular, I think the very high level of illegal immigration is a major concern, as is the fiscal cost associated with that, both in terms of accommodation and public service provision.”
Later in the debate, she claimed the debate on migration should not be framed as one of “Scotland against the rest of the UK”.
“I think this debate is much more about different sectors across the UK,” Smith added.
“I don't like the idea that we often get into constitutional debate about this. I think it's much more to do with the sectors.”
“It's absolutely essential,” he added.
“Eleven months ago, the UK Labour Government inherited a chaotic broken system.
“Fixing that system will take time.
“Without any doubt, it's right that the UK Government has taken those steps necessary to ensure that immigration is safe, it's fair and also crucially that it meets the needs of our economy.
“Because meeting those needs of the economy that's actually part of the basis of make sure that enjoys public support, which is absolutely crucial.”
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman, joining the debate remotely, told the chamber that she wanted to “challenge the toxic narratives that define UK immigration policy”.
“We must be absolutely clear immigration is a societal good, not a problem to be managed,” she said.
“We should celebrate it.”
