Pressure is mounting on incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reconsider Labour’s proposed migration reforms as MPs prepare to debate the Immigration and Asylum Bill in the House of Commons.
The legislation faces its Second Reading today amid growing opposition from within Labour’s own ranks, with almost 80 Labour MPs reportedly signing a letter calling for changes to the policy.
Those MPs argue that applying the proposed changes retrospectively to migrants who have already followed the existing rules fails what they describe as “the fairness test for a compassionate but firm system.”
The debate has also prompted renewed criticism from the SNP, which says the proposals would have a disproportionate impact on Scotland’s health service, care sector and wider economy.
The party has long argued that Scotland should have greater control over migration policy through the devolution of immigration powers, including the creation of a Scottish visa route designed to address workforce shortages.
SNP immigration spokesperson Pete Wishart MP said:
“Andy Burnham’s plans for power are still a closely guarded secret, but if he isn’t prepared to face scrutiny on his own policies then at the very least he needs to scrap some of Keir Starmer’s.
“He should start by scrapping Starmer’s reckless migration plans.
“This Labour Party policy would slash NHS and care workers from overseas and starve Scotland’s economy of its valued and hugely beneficial international workforce.
“It is a direct attack on Scotland’s NHS and economy.
“They risk tearing apart communities, a retrospective and vindictive change of the rules to discriminate against our neighbours and our friends who have built a home in Scotland and who enrich our nation.
“The fact that Andy Burnham is facing his first major revolt before he even enters Downing Street should show him just how reckless these plans would be.
“If he won’t listen to stakeholders in Scotland, he should at least listen to the rebellion on his own backbenches.
“If Burnham chooses to double down on Starmer’s migration policies it will clearly show that the Labour Party is still determined to imitate Nigel Farage, and impose harmful policies it knows will damage Scotland, in a shameless attempt to woo Reform Party voters in England.
“It shows why Scotland needs the full powers of independence, so people in Scotland can make decisions in our interests, instead of having harmful decisions imposed on us by Westminster.”
The UK Government has previously rejected SNP proposals to devolve migration powers to Scotland, arguing that immigration should remain a reserved matter managed across the UK.
The outcome of today’s debate is expected to be closely watched by employers, universities and health and care providers, many of whom rely on international recruitment to fill workforce shortages.
