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Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf making his keynote speech during the SNP annual conference at the Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) in Aberdeen, October 17, 2023
THE SNP-Green Scottish government published its plans for migration today, should Scotland ever become independent.
It is the latest in a series of white papers in which civil servants commissioned by the Scottish government speculate on policies which may be pursued by a state not in existence.
The white paper states an independent Scotland will rejoin the EU, enjoying “free movement” across the zone as well as with England.
“The only thing members can do is control the number people coming from third countries to seek work.
“Members are obliged to cut what the EU terms ‘irregular immigration’ principally through what they call an ‘effective return policy’.
“In 2020 the EU commission adopted the European Pact on Migration and Asylum.
“The European TUC condemned it because it allows member states to sponsor deportations as an alternative to accepting their human rights responsibility to enable people to claim asylum in their countries.
“It is a gross perversion of language for this to be called an approach of ‘solidarity.’
“If this is what SNP considers to be a progressive position on immigration then, as Dylan sings: ‘Pity the poor immigrant’.”
As Scotland heads to the polls, the main parties offer variations on the same script, says MATT KERR
