Half now want rid of jobless migrants

miGrantS from europe should be sent home if they fail to find work, according to a poll that demolishes nicola Sturgeon’s claim that Scotland needs to be protected from a ‘tory hard brexit’.

nearly half, or 45 per cent, of Scots think eu citizens who are out of work for six months or more should be sent home, while a further 30 per cent think they should have to apply for a visa, the newly published survey shows.

only 25 per cent believe eu migrants should be allowed to stay in britain even if they fail to find a job, researchers found.

miss Sturgeon has claimed an independence referendum is needed to allow Scots the chance to prevent ‘being driven off a hard brexit cliff edge’.

mev brown, former chief spokesman for brexit campaign group business for britain in Scotland, who commissioned the bmG poll of 1,041 Scots, said: ‘the polling data very much reflects the conversations i had during the brexit campaign.

‘Scots clearly want an immigration policy where the best interests of the country determines who is allowed to stay and who can come into

‘Scots do not support SNP’s soft-touch policy’

the country after brexit. Scots do not support the SnP’s soft-touch, open door, “free for all” immigration policy.’

he added: ‘there is a recognition of the contribution foreign workers make to the Scottish economy and that foreign workers are welcome. but when looking at long-term benefit claimants, that support falls significantly. Forty-five per cent of Scots think long-term benefit claimants should be sent home when we leave the eu.’

last night the Scottish Government said eu nationals were ‘greatly valued’ around the nation. a spokesman added: ‘by far the biggest threat to Scotland’s economy is a hard brexit, which threatens to cost our economy £11billion a year by 2030 and cost the country 80,000 jobs over a decade.

‘the Scottish Government greatly values both the contribution that eu migrants bring to our economy and society, and the benefits of freedom of movement enjoyed by our own citizens, such as the right to free movement to live, study and work in all eu countries and benefit from their healthcare and social security systems.

‘We want eu nationals in Scotland to feel settled and secure and to continue to make a strong contribution to our country.

‘We continue to urge the uK Government to provide assurances on the status as soon as possible in forthcoming negotiations with the eu.’