Only independence lets Scotland build a migration system that works for us
by Scotland’s population has now passed 5.5 million for the first time, underlining that our country is an attractive place to live, work and settle. People recognise Scotland’s values and the opportunities here – from free university tuition to free prescriptions.
But the figures also show a hard truth: with an ageing population, Scotland depends on positive net migration to sustain our public services, fill skills gaps and grow the economy. That means we need a migration system built for Scotland’s needs – not one imposed by Westminster.
Right now, Westminster’s hostile stance on immigration is damaging Scotland’s future. Brexit, which Scotland overwhelmingly rejected, has cut off vital labour supply in rural areas and left employers struggling to find workers. Both the Tories and Labour are locked in a race to the bottom on migration, with Keir Starmer now adopting rhetoric that is even more hardline than his predecessors.
Before the last election, Labour promised to consider a Scottish Rural Visa scheme – a tailored approach to help communities in places like the Highlands and Islands address labour shortages. Yet since taking office, those promises have been quietly abandoned. Scotland’s real needs have once again been ignored.
This is Westminster politics in action: short-term headlines over long-term solutions, fearmongering over fairness, control over cooperation.
Only independence gives Scotland the power to design a migration system that reflects our values and meets our needs. With independence, we can support rural communities, attract the skills our economy needs, and grow a society that welcomes people rather than scapegoats them.
Scotland is already showing that it is a country people want to come to. Independence is how we make sure our migration policies match our ambitions – not Westminster’s obsessions.