Immigration plans ‘a work in progress’, claims Carlaw
JACKSON Carlaw has described the UK Government’s controversial immigration plans as a “work in progress”, in a clear sign of Scottish Tory unhappiness with them.
“We need a migration system appropriate to Scotland’s needs and our demographics and economy,” the Scottish Tory leader said, in a challenge to the uniform Uk-wide plan published by Home Secretary Priti Patel.
His rebuke followed business leaders across Scotland warning the change to a post-brexit points system in 2021 would dramatically shrink the pool of available workers north of the Border.
The care home, farming, fishing and hospitality sectors all warned it would harm them, especially in rural areas already facing labour shortages.
Under the proposals, after EU freedom of movement ends, low-skilled workers earning less than £25,600 a year would no longer get visas.
The UK Government says it wants employers to move away from relying on cheap labour and invest in highly skilled staff and automation.
Ms Patel has said said 8.5 million “economically inactive”’ Britons could help fill any job gaps, however most are students, sick or carers.
Nicola Sturgeon also said it would have a devastating impact on the wider economy, given Scotland’s reliance on inward migration to maintain its working age taxbase.
The First Minister last month proposed creating a Scottish visa as an alternative to a Uk-wide system, but the Home Office dismissed it out of hand.
Mr Carlaw praised parts of the Scottish Government’s analysis.
Amid reports the Scottish Tories are furious about the issue, and the headache it creates for them, Mr
Carlaw was confronted by the media after First Minister’s Questions.
He said he had been talking to UK ministers over the last 48 hours and now wanted to discuss the subject with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
He said: “It’s a work in progress and I very much hope and intend that we will have a migration process, in the final analysis and detail, which is appropriate to Scotland.”
Asked if the UK system was wrong, he said: “I don’t think what’s being proposed by UK ministers actually has been properly understood in all its detail. Let’s just, over the next few days, wait and see what becomes available.
“I am in ongoing discussions with UK ministers. I hope to see the Prime Minister when I’m in London shortly and I expect we will have a migration system which is appropriate to Scotland’s needs.”
Asked about the SNP’S suggestion of a Scottish visa, he said: “The answer is to have a migration system which is appropriate to Scotland’s needs.
“I think we are still digesting the Scottish Government’s paper as well, which we actually as Scottish Conservatives believe had quite a sensible analysis of the situation and there were some sensible suggestions made in that too.”
Suggesting the Scottish Tories might break a General Election manifesto commitment unless there were changes, he said: “We made a specific promise that we need a migration system appropriate to Scotland’s needs and our demographics and economy.
“The Scottish Conservatives remain committed to that. It’s a work in progress. Let’s see how it unfolds.”
It followed Ms Sturgeon renewing her criticism of the plans at FMQS.
She told MSPS: “The proposals on immigration... are wrong in principle.
“They brand as low-skilled people who care for us in our care homes and hospitals, farm our land, process our fish, build our houses and look after tourists in restaurants and hotels, and imply those people are not welcome.
I very much hope and intend that we will have a migration process, in the final analysis and detail
“That is shocking and shameful. They are the biggest risk to our economic prosperity that we face.”
She also said the plans were a test for Mr Carlaw and his party.
“Rather than being quietly livid, should the Scottish Tories not be standing up for Scotland and doing something about it?” she said.
The First Minister’s official spokesman said: “Not only does Boris Johnson’s government treat the
Scottish Government with contempt, they treat their own Scottish Tory colleagues with utter contempt.
“If there are indeed further proposals to come, which might go some way towards some of the things that we have called for, we’d be happy to see them and we’ll judge them on their merits.”