Immigration powers after Brexit

tenable to give the UK capital such status if Scotland was denied it. “For Scotland to be properly served after Britain exits the EU the question of what say it will have in future immigration policy has to be addressed,” she said.

“There is no reason why Scotland’s government should not have a say in immigration policy when the UK is out of the EU. The different UK nations and regions have differing skills and demographic needs which will require individual solutions to compensate for the loss of freedom of movement. A different Britain has to emerge as it leaves the EU. It could devolve more powers and give nations and regions within it a bigger say on reserved matters. It is essential that Scotland gets a full say in the direction we might be heading.”

McNeill added: “If a preferential arrangement is being considered for the City of London it would be unacceptable if similar protection was not nego- tiated for Scotland. The deal, whatever it is, must serve Scotland and other parts of the UK such as Northern Ireland just as well as the City of London.”

Rowley, in his speech last week, said: “If it is right for the City of London to get a deal, then it is equally right for Scotland to state the case for tariff-free access to the single market, and be in a position to agree immigration policy for our economy and set the condition that there will be no rowing back on employment rights which support wages and workplace justice.”

However, UK Brexit secretary David Davis, speaking on a visit to Glasgow, ruled out Holyrood having a say over immigration, stating that it was a reserved issue. “It’s hard to see how a separate immigration policy would work,” he said. The Tory cabinet minister also denied that Scotland and other parts of the UK could have separate relationships with the EU after Brexit.

It is essential Scotland gets a full say in the direction we are heading