Controls at the Border ‘would be necessary’

A HOME Office minister has warned that Alex Salmond’s open-door immigration policy would lead to border controls between Scotland and England.

James Brokenshire, Minister for Immigration and Security, said the rest of the UK would be forced to defend itself from Scotland’s ‘more relaxed approach’.

The First Minister has said a separate Scottish Government would not ‘kick out’ migrants and would try to grow the population, despite warnings of an unprecedented strain on public services.

That contrasts with the UK’s and Ireland’s approach, where visas are given only to people with specific skills that would benefit the country.

The Westminster Government fears that, in the event of a Yes vote, immigrants might use Scotland as a back door entrance to the rest of the UK.

Mr Brokenshire said: ‘Scotland would be taking a markedly different approach from the UK and Ireland.

‘Our approach is seeking scarce skills but not seeking to grow the

‘Seeking to grow the population’

population, which is what the Scottish Government intends to do.

‘We could not see an independent Scotland having a markedly different immigration policy and accept the risks that people might seek to exploit that more relaxed approach. In that scenario we would have to put in border controls and checks.

‘To think that an independent Scotland could say we want to be part of a common travel area and t ake a markedly different approach would be wide of the mark.’

Despite his warnings, the Scottish Government insisted there would be a common travel area in the event of a Yes vote.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Independence would give Scotland full responsibility for managing its borders and migration in a way that best fits the national interests. Border controls would be i n no one’s interests.

‘Scotland would remain part of the common travel area, which has existed for many decades allowing freedom of movement between the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The Republic of Ireland and the UK already operate different immigration systems within the CTA.’