Difference of political opinion over UK immigration bill
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A NEW bill which proposes a points-based immigration system and a salary threshold of £25,600 for people looking to enter the UK passed its first parliament test this week by 351 votes to 252.
It has split opinion between political rivals in Moray.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead (SNP) claimed it would be disastrous for Moray and warned that any moves to prevent workers coming into the area would be devastating for the local economy.
However, MP Dougas Ross (Conservative), who backed the first reading of the bill, said it would lead to a fairer immigration system which would help Scottish companies to prosper.
Mr Lochhead said the UK Government's definition of unskilled workers is offensive.
He added: "In Moray 60 per cent of earners earn less than that each year.
Earlier this year Mr Lochhead held a summit with public and private sector representatives from across Moray to discuss the proposed immigration bill.
He claimed the bill will "slam the door shut for people from overseas who could contribute a great deal to our economy, our communities, and wider society".
“We’re lucky in Moray to be home to thousands of people who have chosen to move here from other parts of the world and many of those wouldn’t have been allowed into the country under these new rules.
“The most serious aspect of the Bill is the minimum salary requirement for applicants to be allowed to come here in the first place. It is a completely arbitrary figure that has been plucked out of the air and defines anyone who is earning less than £25,600 a year as ‘unskilled’, which is just offensive.
Mr Lochhead insists the bill will cause real and lasting damage the Moray economy and public services.
However, Mr Ross responded: "The remarks from the SNP in Moray suggest a change in their position, since when they campaigned to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK they said they would deliver “a controlled points-based system to support the migration of skilled workers for the benefit of Scotland’s economy” and that is what the UK government are now doing as we said we would do in the manifesto I was elected on in December last year.
“We will have a fairer, skills-led, points-based immigration system which works for all parts of the UK, ensuring Scottish businesses have the skills they need to grow and prosper as our economy recovers.
“I held a very constructive roundtable with Moray businesses when these plans were first announced and I continue to engage with them on this issue, and all matters important to businesses and individuals, in Moray.”
