Boris Johnson’s plan to roll out an Australian style points based immigration system post-Brexit has been branded “woeful” by the SNP.
The former foreign secretary revealed earlier this week that he planned to make the country more open to highly skilled immigrants and tougher on those who “abused” the UK’s “hospitality”.
The SNP say the pledge flies in the face of a recent growth commission report which highlighted Scotland’s need for population growth, specifically through inward migration.
The party’s immigration spokesman Stuart McDonald MP said the immigration policy put forward by Mr Johnson would be “disastrous”.
He said: “This woeful race to the bottom from the Tories has no regard for Scotland’s specific circumstances.
“The growth commission report forcefully highlighted Scotland’s specific needs on migration. These have been roundly ignored by both the Tories and Labour for decades.”
He added: “The SNP has been clear and consistent in its message. Inward migration is good for Scotland and the ‘hostile environment’ policy created by Theresa May is a disastrous legacy that has caused significant harm to both Scotland and the UK.”
Boris Johnson’s Australian style points system for immigration would be a ‘disaster’ for Scotland
