MSPs have backed calls for a “humane migration system tailored to Scotland’s needs” following the publication of the latest independence white paper.
Migration to Scotland After Independence, published earlier this month, set out a vision to tackle population decline and attract more migrants to Scotland, following separation from the UK.
Holyrood saw MSPs debate the details of the paper on Tuesday, where opposition politicians lamented the issue even being brought to the chamber in the first place.
The Scottish Government’s motion decrying the Westminster Government’s “hostile rhetoric towards migrants” and welcoming the publication of the latest whitepaper was passed with 60 votes for Yes, and 49 for No.
This came despite multiple Unionist MSPs complaining during their submissions that the debate had been brought in the first place.
Opening the debate, Minister for Independence Jamie Hepburn said that “migration matters to Scotland”.
“That’s why continuing to stress that Scotland’s a welcoming, attractive country for those seeking to make a contribution here is essential,” he said.
“Scotland’s migration policy is not decided here in this Parliament, but in Westminster. Both the Tories and Labour Party want to keep it that way.”
Hepburn added that this leaves Scotland “at the mercy” of right-wing Home Secretaries and “extreme” rhetoric.
He added that while Suella Braverman may have been sacked, there was “no indication” James Cleverly would change policy direction.
“For the current UK Government the hostile environment has not been hostile enough,” he added.
NEW: MSPs have backed calls for a “humane migration system tailored to Scotland’s needs” following the publication of the latest independence white paper Opening the debate, Minister for Independence Jamie Hepburn said that “migration matters to Scotland” pic.twitter.com/Ro6AOPf3t0
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Scottish Labour, Scottish Tory and Scottish LibDem MSPs all used their opening submissions to complain about the context of the debate.
Alex Cole-Hamilton sparked laughter from the SNP benches when he remarked: “I’m not even sure what we’re doing here frankly.”
He added that he was “heartily sick” of using debate time to discuss “ this SNP-Green’s delusional independence paper”.
He added: “I am sick and tired of indulging this dead-end fantasy in the precious time that is given to us in this chamber.
"How much ink has been wasted? How many words have been spent? How many hours of civil servants' time and of our time have been squandered on plans and proposals that they must surely know will never see the light of day?”
Cole-Hamilton called for the production of the papers to be ceased and civil servants redeployed to other departments.
Scottish Tory constitution spokesperson Donald Cameron, meanwhile, said he had a “familiar sense of deja vu” reading the Scottish Government’s motion.
He told the chamber: “We have yet another debate about a Scottish Government paper on separation that is full of hypotheticals and conjecture.
“We have debated migration and population some four times during this session of Parliament and nothing to my mind has changed substantially since we discussed the issue of migration back in June.”
Cameron claimed that the Parliament was being forced to debate an issue that is “simply not a top priority for the people of Scotland”.
The Scottish Tory MSPs amendment that said Scotland “has consistently taken below its population share of migrants” and should work with the UK Government to address population changes, did not pass, with 29 votes for Yes and 80 for No.
Scottish Labour MSP Paul O’Kane said that the debate was missing the context of “action” that could be taken in Scotland, such as supporting public services and skills.
“Rather we are having another debate in the context of independence, and I do have to question the value of spending time in this chamber debating this SNP Government’s latest series of hypotheticals,” he said.
“Then again if I were this Government I wouldn’t be too keen on debating the reality either.”
O’Kane then claimed “independence is not on the horizon” and said the white paper will “simply lie gathering dust while the present needs remain unaddressed”.
The Scottish Labour MSPs amendment, which would have welcomed UK Labour plans to “build an immigration system that works for all the nations and regions” of the UK, did not pass. MSPs voted against it with 17 votes for Yes, 90 for No and two abstentions.
Ross Greer, on behalf of the Scottish Greens, welcomed the white paper. He told the chamber: “To be the kind of country which is so safe, secure and attractive that people want to live here, is an immense privilege.
"To be in a position to offer sanctuary to those fleeing war, persecution and disaster is an immense privilege.
“To have a widely recognised international reputation as friendly and welcoming is an immense privilege.
“I think that’s a position that most people in Scotland would agree with, I think it’s a position that most people across the UK would agree with.”
We previously told how the Minister for Independence said that an independent Scotland would seek to be the “polar opposite” of Westminster’s hostile immigration system.
