Now Reading: Sarwar Must Honour Scottish Visa Promise
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Sarwar Must Honour Scottish Visa Promise
Scottish Labour MSPs Under Pressure as Vote Looms
The SNP has challenged Anas Sarwar to back a Scottish Visa as Angus MP Stephen Gethins’ Devolution (Immigration) (Scotland) Bill will be voted upon this week.
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The challenge comes after Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie promised voters, during the UK election, that a Labour government would be open to introducing a Scottish visa, and it follows previous commitments from the Labour Party to devolve immigration powers to Scotland.
Mr Sarwar’s election promises were cast into doubt when Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appeared to reject the plan following the election last year. In response, Scottish hospitality and tourism chiefs criticised the Labour government, with Leon Thompson, executive director of UK Hospitality Scotland, commenting that the snub was “very, very disappointing”.
Mr Thomson added “There needs to be some further conversations at how we have arrived at a situation where it [a Scottish visa] is not being considered at all when it was part of the conversation before the election. Nobody expected anything like this to happen quickly but to see it taken off the table altogether will be a blow to the sector.“
On Friday, a bill to create our own Scottish Visa system goes to the Commons – a real chance to build an immigration system that works for Scotland.
— The SNP Media (@theSNPMedia) April 22, 2025
If Scotland is really at the heart of this Labour government, they need to back this bill. https://t.co/2ZDyS4Z0vt
The SNP, with backing from stakeholders across the Scottish economy, has long called for a Scottish Visa to address the damaging labour shortages caused by the Westminster government’s Brexit and anti-immigration policies. The loss of freedom of movement, in particular, has led to labour shortages in Scotland’s NHSÂ and key sectors including agriculture, hospitality, construction and higher education – damaging economic growth and prosperity.
The SNP has also made the case that a Scottish Visa, and devolution of migration powers, would boost the Scottish economy by addressing Scotland’s demographic challenges. Without these powers, the working age population of Scotland, and the overall population, are projected to decline.
Think tank, Reform Scotland, chaired by former Labour First Minister Lord McConnell, has also backed an independent Scottish visa scheme writing before the election that there is a “danger Scotland’s needs will be overlooked.”
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With the SNP’s Bill progressing to a Second Reading on Friday, Stephen Gethins has written to Anas Sarwar and Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, challenging them to back the Bill and whip Scottish Labour MPs to vote for it.
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In his letter, Stephen Gethins MP writes:
Dear Anas, Ian,
On Friday, there is an opportunity for us to work together on creating a Scottish Visa and an immigration system that works for Scotland.
The Devolution (Immigration) (Scotland) Bill will have its Second Reading which, if passed, will amend the Scotland Act 1998 to allow Scottish Ministers to make decisions about immigration that reflect Scotland’s economic needs, including the creation of a Scottish Visa.
You will know that Scottish industries and the higher education sector are strongly supportive of an immigration system that will keep Scotland’s economy and industries competitive and at the cutting edge of innovation. We know from the UK Treasury’s own analysis that Brexit has hammered our economy, but Scotland also faces a unique demographic challenge with both the overall population and the working age population projected to decline without these powers.
For far too long, Westminster has made UK-wide immigration policy that doesn’t work for Scotland and I know that you recognise this having previously acknowledged the need for a “bespoke solution” for Scotland. Prior to the UK General Election, both you and Jackie Baillie signalled that a UK Labour Government would be open to talks on a Scottish Visa. Jackie Baillie said discussions made “common sense” while you said you had already held discussions with the Home Secretary.
This was a commitment also made by Michael Gove prior to the EU Referendum, who understood the challenges that taking us out of the EU would cause Scottish sectors. In this, he has been proved right but like in other areas he failed to deliver.
We have the opportunity to correct that post-Brexit omission. In presenting this proposal, I am putting forward a suggestion that has been supported by other political parties, stakeholders and the leading think tank Reform Scotland and it is my hope you will instruct Scottish Labour MPs to rise above party politics and back our Bill in the interests of Scotland’s economy.
This is obviously the second reading of the Bill and, if passed, I am sure that we can work together at the next stage to ensure a piece of legislation that takes into account our differing political priorities whilst meeting demands from Scotland’s key sectors.
This Bill is a reasonable and practical step to progress a Scottish Visa and I am open to negotiating and working with colleagues from across the political spectrum to ensure this Bill can win support from as many MPs as possible.
Voters expect pre-election and pre-Referendum commitments to be kept, and I look forward to hearing from you on how we can pass this Bill in the best interests of the Scottish people and wider economy.
I am copying in the Secretary of State for Scotland given the important role that he will have to play in the House of Commons.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Gethins
Anas Sarwar has been urged to 'make good on his promises' to Scotland and back the introduction of a bespoke Scottish visa this week https://t.co/mr6GXbFIKv
— The National (@ScotNational) April 22, 2025
