The SNP is urging the UK Labour Government to reverse what it calls damaging and dehumanising migration and economic policies that are hitting Scotland’s social care sector.
The call comes ahead of a debate in the Scottish Parliament today where SNP MSPs will argue that recent decisions taken at Westminster are worsening recruitment challenges and increasing financial pressure on care providers across the country.
The debate follows comments from Scottish Labour’s health and social care spokesperson Jackie Baillie who is expected to accuse the Scottish Government of driving a crisis in the sector.
The SNP argues that these claims ignore the impact of Labour’s decisions at Westminster which have increased employer National Insurance contributions and introduced stricter immigration rules, costing the sector £84 million in just over a year.
Concerns over the new immigration framework have been echoed widely across Scotland’s care community.
Scottish Care chief executive Donald Macaskill said he is “deeply concerned” by the proposals which “will deter much needed talent from staying in Scotland”.
He urged Scottish Labour to challenge the plans and described them as “insensitive to Scotland’s distinct needs”.
The SNP will use today’s debate to repeat those concerns and call on Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to support efforts to overturn UK policies which could force care workers to wait up to 15 years for settlement.
The proposals were described as “brave” by Sarwar despite criticism from providers who depend heavily on a steady flow of international staff to maintain services.
The SNP points to a 77 percent fall in Health and Care Worker visas after dependants were excluded from applications in March 2024, followed by Labour’s decision to close the social care visa route entirely in July 2025.
The Scottish Government has repeatedly pressed the Home Office to reverse the move and has committed £500,000 to support displaced international workers who lost their sponsorship through no fault of their own.
Commenting, SNP MSP Emma Harper said:
“Whether it be Brexit, Labour’s tax on jobs or dehumanising immigration policies to keep up with Nigel Farage, it is the decisions of successive Westminster governments which are harming social care in Scotland.
“Despite warnings about the devastating impact of the changes to immigration laws from experts in Scotland’s care sector, Anas Sarwar showed that he will always stand up for his London bosses ahead of standing up for Scotland, and now Jackie Baillie is attempting to lay the blame for Labour’s shortcomings elsewhere.
“If Labour is serious about helping our social care sector, they should join us in calling on their colleagues in the UK Government to reverse their hostile and damaging migration policies and ditch their decision to hike Employers National Insurance Contributions which has cost the sector £84 million.
“What Scotland really needs is a fresh start with independence so that we can build a migration system based on our needs and values rather than one shaped by politicians hundreds of miles away in Westminster.”
The debate highlights a growing divide over how Scotland should attract and retain care staff at a time when the sector faces deepening pressures and rising demand.
