FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is "horrified" at the implications of a court ruling which deemed lock-change evictions against asylum seekers to be lawful.
As she called for Holyrood to be given control over Scotland's immigration policy at First Minister's Questions, the SNP leader said while the eviction practice may be "lawful, it is certainly not moral".
The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled yesterday that the practice used by Home Office contractor Serco, against asylum seekers who had been denied refuge in the UK, was not against the law.
In response to a question from Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie - who described the practice as "despicable" - the First Minister said: "I am horrified at the implications of this judgment.
"If lock-change evictions are legal - and of course the Human Rights Act is reserved to Westminster - they are certainly not moral."
READ MORE: Serco's asylum seeker lock-change evictions ruled lawful
The First Minister said UK immigration policy has impacted the way asylum seekers and other immigrants are treated when they reach Britain.
She said: "Let's be clear about this, we've ended up in this situation because of an inhumane and degrading government asylum system which is leaving people destitute and homeless in the country where they have sought refuge.
"We should be giving refuge to the people who have fled worse circumstances than we can even imagine."
Sturgeon said the Scottish Government needs a "long-term, sustainable solution" to the problem, while calling for control of immigration to be devolved from Westminster.
She added: "We'll do everything we can do in our powers to ensure that asylum seekers have everything that they need, the Communities Secretary will be liaising with stakeholders to see how we can support people who have been placed in this situation by an inhumane asylum system.
"Longer term - and I hope it's not too long-term - what we really need is control over immigration and asylum in this Parliament, so we can build from scratch a system that has humanity, dignity and respect at its very heart."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel