Labour defeated as Holyrood calls for UK Government action on Scottish visa scheme

THE Scottish Parliament has called for the Labour Government to act on a bespoke Scottish visa scheme.

MSPs voted by 67 to 27, with 22 abstentions, to support a SNP Government motion calling for action on immigration to address “the needs of Scotland’s employers, communities and public services”.

An amendment put forward by Scottish Labour that would have removed from the motion any call for action from the Westminster government fell by 24 votes to 93, with no abstentions.

The SNP Government motion notes that the “Parliament has previously endorsed a motion calling for the development of a differentiated, more flexible migration policy tailored to meet Scotland’s specific needs”.

It then calls for the UK Government to “accept the Rural Visa Pilot proposal and to work directly and constructively with the Scottish Government to ensure that the needs of Scotland’s employers, communities and public services are fully reflected within the immigration system”.

The Scottish Rural Visa pilot proposal, put forward in September 2022, looked to bring in a “targeted migration solution” that can address depopulation and labour shortages in rural and island communities by allowing workers and their families to settle and contribute to these areas.

Ahead of the General Election, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie told The Herald that a new Labour government would be open to talks with ministers in Edinburgh about a "Scottish visa".

However, since being elected in July, the Labour Government at Westminster has shut down any suggestion that the idea is being considered.

A second amendment proposed by Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman passed by 68 votes to 28, with 21 abstentions.

It saw MSPs call on the UK Government “to remove the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) conditions that limit the support and services available to many, especially those seeking asylum”.

A third, put forward by the Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour, fell by 27 votes to 90. It would have had no effect other than to blame the Scottish Government for labour shortages and depopulation issues in rural areas.

Speaking to close the debate, SNP Investment Minister Tom Arthur called out contributions from the Tory benches – where MSPs had argued that because immigration is reserved to Westminster the topic should not be talked about at Holyrood.

Arthur said: “I would just want to respond to one point that was raised by one or two members, which was questioning whether or not it was even legitimate for this parliament to be discussing the issue of migration.

SNP minister Tom Arthur (Image: NQ) “Now, of course, there are a number of policies that people on the government bench would like to see devolved to this parliament … but frankly, there was once a time when every power exercised by this parliament and by Scottish ministers was exercised at Westminster and Whitehall.

“I think it is perfectly legitimate in a democracy to make the case and to advocate for change.

“If we cannot parlay in a parliament, then goodness knows where we can do it – particularly when it's on a subject matter of such profound importance to our economy, our well-being, and our society overall, as that of the very people who live in Scotland, and how we create pathways for people to come and live in Scotland.”

Labour MSPs argued that the Scottish Government should look to solve issues such as housing and the lack of economic opportunities in rural areas in order to promote internal migration, rather than calling for action from the UK Government on the reserved issue of immigration.