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Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Immigration is an economic necessity without which Scotland risks long-term decline
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The UK Government's latest White Paper on immigration reform sets a clear and concerning economic trajectory. While legislative changes will take time, the implications for Scotland's economy, labour market, and long-term demographic health cannot be overstated. Immigration policy is not simply a legal or political matter. It is an economic lever. One that must be calibrated to support growth, innovation, and inclusion across the country. Yet, the proposed changes risk placing further pressure on a fragile labour market, making it harder for businesses to recruit the people they need now, and plan for future success. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Every region of the UK has different needs. For Scotland, immigration is not a choice but an economic necessity. This is backed by employers across every sector. Our most recent Scottish Chambers of Commerce business survey revealed how deeply workforce shortages are constraining our ability to grow and invest. Labour's White Paper on immigration risks causing damage to businesses in Scotland (Picture: Ian Vogler/pool) | POOL/AFP via Getty Images Scotland's rapidly ageing population The Scottish Government has sensibly proposed initiatives such as a rural worker visa scheme to address specific geographical concerns. Such place-based migration tools are common in other countries and should be urgently supported by the UK Government if they are serious about enabling growth in every UK nation and region. Scotland's demographic trajectory makes this all the more urgent. Our population is ageing rapidly. By 2045, there will be 65 per cent more Scots over the age of 75. Alarmingly, we are the only part of the UK projected to see an overall population decline. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This presents a generational challenge: a shrinking working-age population expected to fund and deliver growing health and social care services. The fiscal and social pressures will be enormous. We must therefore ask: how do we retain, attract and grow our working-age population in the face of these headwinds? Attracting international talent The answer lies in a combination of domestic talent development and bold, progressive migration policy. The evidence is clear: high-performing economies like Canada and Singapore have long embraced liberal migration systems. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad These countries understand that attracting international talent and offering routes to settlement are not threats to cohesion but are investments in national prosperity. Scotland and the UK should be no different. Creating a landscape where people want to come, stay and thrive must now become a defining feature of our national strategy. That means aligning policies on housing, transport and digital infrastructure with a clear message: Scotland is open, competitive and welcoming. Practical solutions required This is not just a policy debate but an economic imperative. The decisions we make today will shape the nation our children and grandchildren inherit. Without decisive action to pull the levers which can address these issues, we risk managing long-term decline instead of unlocking long-term potential. Scotland has the talent, ambition and values to lead the way and, with the right tools, including a responsive immigration system, we can unlock even greater potential. We believe there is a real opportunity for the UK Government and Scotland's business community to work together to design practical solutions that reflect the needs of our economy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad By taking a partnership approach, we can strengthen growth, address workforce challenges, and ensure Scotland remains a dynamic and competitive part of the UK economy.
Glasgow Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Britons feel disconnected from society and lack faith in others
A survey of more than 13,000 British adults found 50% said they felt disconnected from society, while 44% said they sometimes felt like a 'stranger' in their own country. The findings come a week after Sir Keir Starmer argued that Britain risked becoming an 'island of strangers' if immigration did not come down. But the poll by More In Common suggested that the reasons for disconnection went beyond immigration and culture, with 47% of British Asians saying they felt like a stranger in their country – more than the 44% of white Britons who said the same thing. The survey found economic insecurity that was most closely related to alienation, with two-thirds of people who said that they struggled to make ends meet also saying they felt disconnected, compared to only 37% of the financially comfortable. Sir Keir Starmer said Britain risked becoming an 'island of strangers' if it did not get immigration numbers down, but a survey has suggested social disconnection is due to more than just migration (Ian Vogler/PA) Focus groups also suggested that a decline in face-to-face interaction, driven by technology, social media and working from home, had changed how people interacted with each other. Luke Tryl, director of More In Common, said the research showed 'an urgent need to think again about how we rebuild a united and cohesive society'. He added: 'The polling puts into sharp relief something that will come as no surprise to many Britons – a growing sense that we've turned inward, away from each other, becoming more distant and less connected.' The study marks the launch of a new national project – This Place Matters – focused on strengthening social bonds and backed by the UCL Policy Lab, campaign group Citizens UK and More In Common. Matthew Bolton, executive director of Citizens UK, said: 'The answers to this don't lie in Whitehall. 'By listening to people closest to the ground about what causes division and what builds unity in their neighbourhood, we can build a blueprint for cohesion rooted in local leadership and community power.' As well as increasing feelings of isolation, the poll suggested significant rates of mistrust, with 53% of people agreeing that 'you can't be too careful with most people'. But younger people were far more likely to lack trust in others, with the figure rising to 65% among 18-24-year-olds and 62% among 25-34-year-olds. The public is also split on whether multiculturalism benefits or threatens Britain's national identity, with 53% saying it is a benefit and 47% saying it is a threat, with some telling focus groups they believe there has not been enough integration. More In Common said focus groups had shown the fallout from last year's riots 'continues to reverberate and affect community cohesion', with many seeing the Prime Minister's response as 'one of his most impressive moments', but a minority feeling the Government had been 'too heavy-handed'. The More In Common poll surveyed 13,464 British adults between March 14 and April 7.
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
More help for victims of domestic abuse
More help for victims of domestic abuse The cash will go to specialist domestic abuse services in Wales and England Jess Phillips Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror ) Thousands more victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, 'honour" abuse and stalking will have access to specialist support services under nearly £20 million announced by the Home Secretary. Helplines for victims of domestic abuse will get £6m of the cash. The investment is designed to reach as many different communities as possible and will help specialist services in England and Wales supporting victims and survivors, the Home Office said. Nine helplines across eight charities will receive funding including: Refuge who run the National Domestic Abuse helpline; HourGlass, a charity supporting older victims; Sign Health who support victims who are Deaf; Galop; The Suzy Lamplugh Trust; Karma Nirvana; and Respect will receive funds to continue running helplines for victims, recruit more staff and support more victims escaping abuse. The funding also includes £5.3 million for services supporting children affected by domestic abuse. The money will go on one-to-one and group counselling, classroom assistance and help for their non-abusive parents. Around £2m will go to help victims access financial help to escape abusive relationships, a wide range of specialist domestic abuse services will receive the funding through the Women Aid's Flexible Fund. This gives payments of up to £500 to help victims secure safety and one-off payments of up to £2,500 for deposits for rented accommodation. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . A further £2.5 million will be for projects to help prevent and also improve responses to violence and abuse against women and girls. Article continues below Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls told WalesOnline: "We have to look at everywhere a victim can come forward and try to make access points the best they can be. "There are people suffering now who need help now and I also know we have to focus on how to prevent people becoming perpetrators. "We need to work on evidence about what will work in schools. There is ongoing concern about misogyny among (some) boys in schools. "Part of the funding is for things like what is happening in schools and programmes we need to run for young people. This is all part of the government efforts to halve violence against women and girls in a decade." Ms Phillips said while domestic abuse services are funded directly by the Welsh Government in Wales the phonelines being funded are for people across the UK, Wales. "I want people in Wales to know that if they ring one of the helplines they won't have the phone put down. We work closely with the Welsh Government to keep funding in synergy." Article continues below The £19.9 million investment includes: More than £6 million for national helplines supporting victims of domestic abuse, 'honour'-based abuse, revenge porn and stalking £5.3 million for services supporting children affected by domestic abuse £2.4 million for the Support for Migrant Victims Scheme to help those with no recourse to public funds £1.96 million for the Flexible Fund providing financial support to domestic abuse victims A further £1.7m for sexual violence specialist services, support and advocacy for families bereaved by domestic abuse, support for victims for economic abuse and employers training. £2.5m to help prevent and improve the response to VAWG. This includes increasing the understanding and identification of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), work to prevent 'honour' based abuse and improving multi-agency working and risk management.
Western Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Reeves hails pension funds' vow to invest billions in UK infrastructure schemes
The Chancellor said the agreement would help start-up firms access finance to grow. Seventeen workplace pension providers have signed up to the voluntary initiative. The Mansion House Accord aims to help defined contribution (DC) pension savers by harnessing higher potential net returns available in private markets, as well as strengthening investment in the UK. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves welcomed the pension funds' commitment (Ian Vogler/PA) Those signing up commit to allocating at least 10% of their DC default funds in private markets by 2030, with at least 5% of the total allocated to the UK, assuming that there is a sufficient supply of suitable assets. That 5% commitment is expected to release £25 billion directly into the UK economy by 2030, with some pension funds indicating privately they will go beyond the targets agreed through the accord. At a signing ceremony at a breakfast meeting with pension fund executives, the Chancellor said: 'I think this accord is a milestone in our plan to ensure that the pension system works better for savers. 'In the end, that's what all of your businesses are about and that is what this government wants to achieve. 'But when people make the sacrifice of saving into a pension, they should be assured that that money is going to work well for them. And we have seen over recent years, over recent decades, I think, an allocation which is not always best for savers.' She added: 'We know that the reforms that we are making today, the accord that you're all signing, will make it easier for our brilliant start-up and scale-up businesses to access finance, to grow their businesses, to create good jobs, obviously to create wealth and opportunity for this country.' The commitment is subject to fiduciary duties as well as the Consumer Duty, which requires financial firms to put consumers at the heart of their products. Workers are often placed into a DC pension pot under automatic enrolment. The size of the pension pot they eventually end up with depends on factors such as how early they start saving, how much they put in and investment performance. The initiative has been jointly led by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) and the City of London Corporation. Based on providers' current investment holdings, total pension assets in the scope of the agreement amount to £252 billion. The industry expects this amount to increase over the accord's lifetime. It is now critical that Government supports the industry's ambition, by facilitating a pipeline of suitable investment opportunities, tackling barriers to investments, and delivering wider pension reforms effectively Yvonne Braun, ABI Those signing up are: Aegon UK, Aon, Aviva, Legal & General, LifeSight, M&G, Mercer, NatWest Cushon, Nest, now:pensions, Phoenix Group, Royal London, Smart Pension, the People's Pension, SEI, TPT Retirement Solutions and the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The initiative builds on the Mansion House Compact, which was signed in July 2023 and saw 11 UK pension providers committing to the aim of investing 5% of DC defaults in unlisted equities, including venture capital and growth equity, by 2030. For providers who have signed up to both, progress under the compact counts towards meeting the goals of the accord. Yvonne Braun, director of policy, long-term savings, health and protection at the ABI, said: 'Investments under the accord will always be made in savers' best interests. 'It is now critical that Government supports the industry's ambition, by facilitating a pipeline of suitable investment opportunities, tackling barriers to investments, and delivering wider pension reforms effectively.'
South Wales Argus
13-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Reeves hails pension funds' vow to invest billions in UK infrastructure schemes
The Chancellor said the agreement would help start-up firms access finance to grow. Seventeen workplace pension providers have signed up to the voluntary initiative. The Mansion House Accord aims to help defined contribution (DC) pension savers by harnessing higher potential net returns available in private markets, as well as strengthening investment in the UK. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves welcomed the pension funds' commitment (Ian Vogler/PA) Those signing up commit to allocating at least 10% of their DC default funds in private markets by 2030, with at least 5% of the total allocated to the UK, assuming that there is a sufficient supply of suitable assets. That 5% commitment is expected to release £25 billion directly into the UK economy by 2030, with some pension funds indicating privately they will go beyond the targets agreed through the accord. At a signing ceremony at a breakfast meeting with pension fund executives, the Chancellor said: 'I think this accord is a milestone in our plan to ensure that the pension system works better for savers. 'In the end, that's what all of your businesses are about and that is what this government wants to achieve. 'But when people make the sacrifice of saving into a pension, they should be assured that that money is going to work well for them. And we have seen over recent years, over recent decades, I think, an allocation which is not always best for savers.' She added: 'We know that the reforms that we are making today, the accord that you're all signing, will make it easier for our brilliant start-up and scale-up businesses to access finance, to grow their businesses, to create good jobs, obviously to create wealth and opportunity for this country.' The commitment is subject to fiduciary duties as well as the Consumer Duty, which requires financial firms to put consumers at the heart of their products. Workers are often placed into a DC pension pot under automatic enrolment. The size of the pension pot they eventually end up with depends on factors such as how early they start saving, how much they put in and investment performance. The initiative has been jointly led by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) and the City of London Corporation. Based on providers' current investment holdings, total pension assets in the scope of the agreement amount to £252 billion. The industry expects this amount to increase over the accord's lifetime. Those signing up are: Aegon UK, Aon, Aviva, Legal & General, LifeSight, M&G, Mercer, NatWest Cushon, Nest, now:pensions, Phoenix Group, Royal London, Smart Pension, the People's Pension, SEI, TPT Retirement Solutions and the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The initiative builds on the Mansion House Compact, which was signed in July 2023 and saw 11 UK pension providers committing to the aim of investing 5% of DC defaults in unlisted equities, including venture capital and growth equity, by 2030. For providers who have signed up to both, progress under the compact counts towards meeting the goals of the accord. Yvonne Braun, director of policy, long-term savings, health and protection at the ABI, said: 'Investments under the accord will always be made in savers' best interests. 'It is now critical that Government supports the industry's ambition, by facilitating a pipeline of suitable investment opportunities, tackling barriers to investments, and delivering wider pension reforms effectively.'
