MSPS back Scots migration powers

The Scottish Parliament has backed demands for control over immigration to be devolved north of the Border after Brexit.

The SNP government insists Scotland needs power over immigration to address population decline.

A crackdown is already looming across the UK to address concerns south of the Border after Brexit.

External affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop said there was a “growing consensus” around the need for a differentiated system in Scotland.

“We need to make sure that we can try and develop an evidence-based argument that brings the consensus from Scotland together to make sure that we can persuade the Ukgovernmentoftheneedfor this change,” she said.

Recent Scottish Government analysis found the net migration target could cost Scot- land’s economy up to £10 billion by 2040.

MSPS last night voted 78-30 to back Holyrood getting immigration powers to develop a “differentiated, more flexible solution, which is tailored to meet Scotland’s specific needs”.

However, opposition parties said the focus should be on reforming the Uk-wide system to make it more responsive to Scotland’s needs, rather than handing powers to Holyrood.