The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
MP fears ‘Brexit is time-bomb’ for coastal economy
‘Migrant labour vital as region becomes retirement home’
INDUSTRY bosses and politicians fear an ageing population and drop in migrant labour following Brexit will “kill” the economy on the west coast.
Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O’Hara said the area was a facing a “demographic time-bomb” unless urgent action was taken.
Mr O’Hara said: “It’s becoming a bit of a retirement home. A lot of the residents are elderly, they have earned a bit of money and have come here to retire, which is great as it’s a beautiful place – but we need young economically active people to keep things alive.”
He added: “Without migration I really do fear a number of industries on the west coast will die, it’s at a tipping point.”
In Argyll and Bute, the 65 and over age group was one of the largest in 2018, with a population of almost 22,000 and the 16 to 24 age group was the smallest, with a population of 8,376.
Mr O’Hara called on the Home Office to loosen immigration controls to allow continental workers easier access to the area.
He said: “They really need to look at rolling out some sort of pilot here, we need these workers.”
The UK Government, in response to concerns, has said the Home Office is drawing up a new immigration system that will work “for every nation, region and community in the UK”.
“The bottom line is we’re finished without migrant workers”
Scotland’s west coast is fast becoming a “retirement home” with many industries at “tipping point”, an MP has warned.
Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O’Hara told the Press and Journal he feared Brexit and the end of freedom of movement could see many industries “die” on his patch, as locals move to the central belt and migrant labour drops away.
Mr O’Hara has now called on the Home Office to loosen immigration controls to allow continental workers easier access to the area.
His comments were echoed by industry figures on the west coast who say that without EU workers they would “struggle to survive”.
Mr O’Hara said: “It’s a demographic time-bomb, it really is.
“It’s becoming a bit of a retirement home.
“A lot of the residents are elderly, they have earned a bit of money and have come here to retire, which is great as it’s a beautiful place – but we need young economically active people to keep things alive.”
In Argyll and Bute, the 65 and over age group was one of the largest last year, with a population of almost 22,000 and the 16 to 24 age group was the smallest, with a population of 8,376.
The SNP MP added: “Without migration I really do fear a number of industries on the west coast will die, it’s at a tipping point.”
Oban trawler skipper Jonathan McAllister agreed that ending freedom of movement would be a disaster.
“Nobody has approached me for a job in years and years and years,” he said.
“The bottom line is we’re finished without migrant workers.”
Mr McAllister, who has been catching prawns off the west coast for 35 years, has three Lativans on his crew and says without them he would have “given up” long ago.
He said: “There are no local crews. As Brendan said, there’s a lot of older people and then the younger lads don’t want this work, it’s hard going. We need EU workers here.
“The fishing industry will absolutely die here if freedom of movement goes, but it won’t end there – the pubs, restaurants, care homes – I can guarantee a lot of their staff are European and they will face difficulty too.”
Mr O’Hara said he believed there needed to be more investment in “digital and physical connectivity” in order to keep younger people from moving away and attract others from outside.
He added: “If you look to the Faroe Islands, the place is treated as a town.
“There is not one part that is more disadvantaged than another in terms of roads and broadband.
“I would like to see the same for Argyll and Bute.”
A Home Office spokesman said a new immigration system will operate from 2021 which “will help us attract the talented workers we need while delivering on the referendum result and ending free movement”.
They added: “Our future skills-based immigration system is designed to drive up wages and productivity across the UK economy, including in Scotland, and support businesses, communities and our public services.”