Denzel case highlights failures

up in Scotland are being removed once they reach adulthood.

The UK Government’s policies cannot be allowed to continue.

Scotland is a progressive and welcoming country and we should be proud people want to come here and make it their home, not turn them away or throw them out after they build their lives here.

It is not only wrong but it is hugely damaging to Scotland’s economic prospects. In the UK, Scotland is uniquely reliant on migration to help grow our working age population. In fact, over the next 25 years, our population of over-75s will increase by nearly 80 per cent – but our working age population will only grow by one per cent.

We should celebrate the fact people are living longer but it means we need more people of working age to help support the services we all rely on.

If the UK Government pursue their proposed policy of reducing net migration, it could cost Scotland £10billion per year by 2040. That is unacceptable.

It’s not just the Scottish Government who think things have to change. There is growing consensus from businesses, universities, charities and other political parties that Scotland needs a different arrangement. Scotland did have a tailored arrangement up until recently – but the UK Government ended it – so we know it can be done.

It just needs the will of the UK Government to work with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to discuss what the new arrangements could look like.

With the UK Government still unable to say what their postBrexit migration policy looks like, we must look at options for a tailor-made, Scotland-specific migration policy to ensure that people with the skills we need can continue to come to Scotland to live, work and study.