Motherwell and Wishaw MSP hits out at UK Government's immigration proposals
The SNP's Clare Adamson joined calls from the care sector and other industries for Sir Keir Starmer to urgently abandon his proposed restrictions on international recruitment
Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Clare Adamson has hit out at Labour's 'reckless and damaging' migration proposals, warning that the plans would be devastating for local NHS and care services and risk harming the Scottish economy.
The SNP's Clare Adamson joined calls from the care sector and other industries for Sir Keir Starmer to urgently abandon his proposed restrictions on international recruitment, which would block access to much needed overseas workers in key sectors like health and social care.
Recent remarks from Scottish Care and UNISON have highlighted the deepening workforce crisis in care, and the risk of collapse if international recruitment is restricted further.
Ms Adamson said: 'Labour have shown their true colours. Keir Starmer's comments on immigration were despicable.
'Turning people against one another to cover his own failures does not represent change; we became used to that under the Tories.
'Migration brings immense economic, social, and cultural benefits. The people who have made their home in Scotland are a valued part of our society.
'Labour's plans are a direct threat to our NHS and care services in Lanarkshire. Like other communities across Scotland, dedicated international workers are integral to keep our hospitals, care homes and community services running.
'We have an ageing population and, bluntly, we need inward migration to boost the economy and broaden the tax base as well as enriching our culture.
'Pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment and slamming the door shut on international recruitment hurts our public services, threatens jobs, economic growth, and our ability to care for the most vulnerable in our community.'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised migration to the UK will fall under his new rules, set out in a white paper.
Starmer has promised to 'tighten up' the immigration system, which he says is 'broken'.
The plans include the introduction of English tests for all visa applicants and their adult dependants, and 10-year wait before migrants can apply to settle in the UK.
The plans bring together months of research by officials and set out Labour's strategy to get tougher on migration.
Successive governments have tried unsuccessfully to reduce net migration, which is the number of people coming to the UK minus the number leaving.
Net migration climbed to a record 906,000 in June 2023, and last year it stood at 728,000.
The threshold for Skilled Worker Visas is expected to be increased to graduate level, tightened from the current A-level measure - while the list of exceptions to the rules for temporary shortage visas in some industries will be narrowed.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed on Sunday that Labour will change the rules to ensure care workers will no longer be recruited from overseas.
Instead, firms will be required to hire British nationals or extend visas of overseas workers already in the country.
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Glasgow Times
32 minutes ago
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Scots ‘voted for change', says Starmer after Labour's surprise by-election win
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STV News
37 minutes ago
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Daily Record
an hour ago
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