The SNP has called on the UK Labour government to repeal restrictive Tory visa rules and devolve immigration powers to Scotland, after new figures revealed an 83% drop in Health and Care Worker visa applications since overseas care workers were banned from bringing dependents to the UK.
UK government statistics show that applications for Health and Care Worker visas have plummeted to just 15,200 between April and September 2024, down dramatically from 88,800 in the same period last year.
The change, introduced by the Tory government in March, was intended to reduce immigration numbers but has instead left Scotland’s healthcare sector in crisis, with acute staff shortages in hospitals and care homes.
The new Labour government, however, has announced it will not consider a separate immigration scheme for Scotland, despite earlier campaign pledges to discuss regional policies that would allow for targeted immigration based on Scotland’s unique needs.
With rural Scottish areas facing specific recruitment challenges, particularly in health and care, the SNP argues that Scotland needs control over its own immigration policies to address these gaps.
SNP MSP and registered nurse Clare Haughey criticised Westminster’s immigration policies, pointing out that Scotland’s public services and private sectors are both being hit hard by these restrictions.
“The 83% drop in visa applications compared to last year highlights the damage these policies are doing to Scotland’s essential services,” Haughey stated, adding that strict visa rules are also creating labour shortages in other sectors, such as agriculture, where seasonal roles have gone unfilled.
Haughey believes the Labour government should either remove the restrictions or give Scotland authority over immigration to address its specific challenges.
Countries like Canada and Australia, she noted, allow their regions to develop immigration policies tailored to local needs—a model that Scotland could benefit from to stabilise essential services and boost the workforce.
With a distinct Scottish immigration system, the SNP contends, Scotland could build a fairer policy that supports its economy, meets local labour demands, and strengthens public services.
The SNP is urging the Labour government to follow through on their election promises, abandon the Tory-driven immigration restrictions, and give Scotland the power to create an immigration strategy that truly fits its people and economy.
