Police initiative on drink and drug driving EU families reassured after Brexit vote

Immigrants have been assured they remain welcome in West Lothian despite Britain voting to leave the European union last week.

the shock referendum result came despite the county recording a 16.6 per cent majority for the remain camp.

of the 88,508 residents who voted, 51,560 chose remain while 36,948 decided they’d rather leave the Eu.

that represented a 58.3 per cent vote for remain and 41.7 per cent for leave. a total of 17,410,742 people voted for leave across the uK, beating remain’s 16,141,241 by a 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent majority.

after the result almond Valley Msp angela Constance and Linlithgow Msp Fiona Hyslop moved to reassure those who have come to West Lothian from other Eu countries.

on Monday, Ms Hyslop, in her scottish government role as Cabinet secretary for External affairs met with the ambassadors of France, germany and slovakia.

the pair said:“West Lothian, like the rest of scotland, voted to remain within the Eu – a vote to protect our place in the world’s biggest single market and the jobs and investment that depend on it.

“It’s significant that the result in scotland came after a campaign that was positive about the Eu and the benefits of freedom of movement.

“as your Msps, we want to tell the citizens of other Eu countries living in West Lothian that you remain welcome here, scotland is your home and your contribution is valued.

“It’s disappointing that the result in scotland was not echoed across the uK –— but scotland has spoken decisively and we will make that voice heard.”

turnout for the vote was 67.6 per cent in West Lothian - slightly above the 67.2 per cent turnout for the whole of scotland and well below the British total of 72.2 per cent.

there were just over a million votes to leave in scotland (1,018,332) - almost 650,000 votes behind remain.