SNP MPs are challenging their Labour counterparts to back an amendment for a Scottish visa scheme when immigration legislation is debated at Westminster on Monday.
The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will go through its second reading, with an SNP amendment calling for a visa scheme which would “support Scotland’s demographic and economic needs”.
Last month, the UK Government said it had “no plans” for a bespoke Scottish visa route.
First Minister John Swinney had called on Labour MPs to work with him in developing a graduate visa arrangement that would let overseas students stay on in Scotland after they finish their studies.
The bill contains measures to tackle people smuggling, as well as formally ditching the previous Conservative government’s Rwanda scheme and repealing parts of the Illegal Migration Act.
The SNP’s amendment welcomes these measures but seeks to halt the bill.
SNP Westminster deputy leader Pete Wishart said: “A Scottish visa is a common-sense step to support the unique needs of our economy and society in Scotland – it has broad-based support and is needed more than ever as Scotland contends with the economic landscape of broken, Brexit Britain.
“Instead, we have a bill at Westminster which dances to Nigel Farage’s tune, continuing to demonise people fleeing war and persecution and signalling that Labour have weakly signed up to the right-wing Westminster consensus on migration.
“Scottish Labour MPs must drop the right-wing rhetoric and instead join the SNP in supporting a Scottish visa to support our unique economic and demographic needs.”
He added: “All over the industrialised world, nations are facing population stagnation and decline and we need to start preparing for the impacts this will have on our public services and economy.
“A Scottish visa will allow us to tackle the Brexit-born staff shortages that have inflicted pain and hardship upon our NHS and Scottish businesses.”
The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
