THE increasing cruelty and indignity of the Home Office proves that Scotland must be given more powers over immigration, an MSP has said. 

Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens warned that the “institutional malice and cruelty” of the Home Office and British government policy shows the need for a humanitarian and welcoming immigration policy that reflects a better society.

Earlier this week it was revealed that a number of refugees arriving in England are being immediately transferred to Scotland’s Dungavel detention centre.

The calls come after council leaders in Scotland called for “urgent” talks with Home Secretary Priti Patel on what they can do to help accommodate asylum-seekers.

Kelly Parry of local authority body Cosla wrote to the Home Office after Ms Patel claimed that 31 of Scotland’s 32 councils had “refused to participate in the dispersal scheme” for those coming to Britain.

Ms Parry urged the government to “engage in discussions with us as a matter of priority,” reiterating the important role Britain plays in providing safety to those fleeing oppression.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The British public have had enough of seeing people die in the Channel while ruthless criminal gangs profit from their misery and our New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken system which encourages migrants to make this lethal journey.

“People should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – rather than making dangerous journeys to the UK. That is why we will have rules in place to make asylum claims inadmissible where people have travelled through or have a connection to safe countries.”