The SNP will demand a Bill to allow the creation of a unique Scottish visa to address labour shortages in Scotland.
Stephen Gethins MP will seek an amendment to the Scotland Act 1998 to enable the Scottish Government to establish the scheme.
The move will come as part of a Ten Minute Rule Bill that the SNP MP will move tomorrow. (Thursday, 17th October).
It comes after remarks from Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie during the General Election campaign that signalled Labour was open to talks on the visa.
This was followed yesterday by Labour’s John Grady MP who told a Westminster Hall debate that the UK government was working on proposals to bring more workers to Scotland.
The SNP has long called for a Scottish visa to address labour shortages in Scotland due to Westminster’s hard Brexit and anti-immigration policies.
The loss of freedom of movement has led to staff shortages across Scotland’s NHS as well as in key industry sectors including agriculture, hospitality and construction.
Commenting, Mr Gethins, the SNP’s Scotland and International Affairs Spokesperson, said:
“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.
“It’s no secret that our social care sector is crying out for workers and who can forget the dreadful scenes of fruit left to rot in the fields of Angus because of Westminster’s bloody-minded anti-immigration policies.
“We stand ready to work with the Labour Government to make this happen and the onus is now on them to step up to the plate, but if they refuse then it’s only right that Holyrood is given the power to take action and introduce a unique Scottish visa.
“Scottish Labour was all too happy to give a nod to the Scottish visa during the election campaign so now it’s time they made good on their word.
“SNP MPs will always demand better for Scotland and that includes this reasonable and practical step to support our economy and our NHS – I urge Scottish Labour MPs to back this Bill and join SNP MPs in putting Scotland’s interests first.”
