HOME Secretary Sajid Javid finally published a long-awaited UK Government white paper on immigration on Wednesday, which immediately came under fire from the Scottish Government, business leaders and migrant charities.

Nicola Sturgeon described it as “an act of vandalism on Scotland’s economy, communities, NHS and public services”, while CBI Scotland director, Tracy Black, said a new system had to command public confidence and support all the UK economies, and added: “These proposals would achieve neither.”

Under the plans, tens of thousands of migrants could come to the UK to work for up to a year post-Brexit, a measure that would be in place until at least 2025, designed to act as a “safety valve” for the economy, protecting sectors reliant on lower skilled overseas labour.

It would be open to nationals from specified countries, regardless of their skill level or whether they have a definite job offer. Applicants would have to apply for a visa – limited to 12 months – at which point a “cooling-off” period will take effect, meaning they could not return under the same route for the next year.

While in the UK, they would not be entitled to access public funds or switch to other routes, bring dependant family members or seek permanent settlement.

The document noted that the independent Migration Advisory Committee concluded there should be no dedicated route for unskilled labour, and there is no intention to open one. However, it said employers have become reliant on lower skilled workers from the EU for certain jobs, adding that sectors like construction and social care would find it difficult to adapt immediately after free movement ends.

There would also be a new visa route for skilled workers, who will be able to stay for longer, bring dependants and in some cases settle permanently. Migrants from all countries could enter by this route, provided they are sponsored by an employer. The cap on skilled worker numbers – currently 20,700 a year – would be axed.

The National:

Home Secretary Sajid Javid endured a tricky afternoon after launching his white paper

Javid denied on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the Government was abandoning commitments in the Tory General Election manifesto to cut immigration.

READ MORE: Sajid Javid's car-crash immigration target interview

However, he refused several times to repeat the target first set by David Cameron to get annual net migration down below 100,000 – a target the Government has consistently failed to meet.

“There is no specific target. It will be a system that will bring net migration down to more sustainable levels,” he said.

The First Minister said the Government was again intent on imposing “disastrous policies on Scotland” without consultation.

“The UK Government’s proposals take absolutely no account of Scotland’s distinct needs,” she said.

“The white paper itself suggests that it may result in an 85% reduction in the number of EEA workers to Scotland – this will be catastrophic for communities and businesses across the whole of Scotland, particularly for key sectors such as tourism, hospitality and the care sector.”

Black said the plans did not meet Scotland’s needs or those of the UK: “The Government cannot indulge in selective hearing. It tunes in to business evidence on a disastrous Brexit no deal, but tunes out from the economic damage of draconian blocks on access to vital overseas workers. The facts are clear. Brexit is cutting off the ability to recruit and retain staff for nine out of 10 firms.”

Chief executive of the Joint Council for Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), Satbir Singh, added: “Every time the Government fails to deliver, it blames immigrants. Now they are pushing out a policy that’s devoid of evidence, compassion or decency in order to win support for their failed Brexit deal ... We need an immigration system that works for everyone.”

Here our thoughts on the Tories' contempt for Scotland