SCOTS are more positive about immigration than the rest of the UK, with more than half saying current levels are about right or too low.
A snap poll, carried out on the day the UK Government unveiled its new post-Brexit points-based system, found 54% of Scots backed current or increased numbers and less than a third – 31% – thought it was too high.
The YouGov findings show a stark contrast in attitudes with elsewhere in the UK, where 48% thought current numbers were too high and 39% believed it was about right or too low.
The immigration plans, which largely restrict entry to the UK for those who earn less than £26,500 and to others classed as “unskilled”, have been widely criticised by trade bodies and businesses in Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon has today written to Boris Johnson calling for an urgent meeting to discuss how to prevent “serious and lasting harm” to Scotland as a result of the new migration policy.
The First Minister has offered to lead a delegation from the Scottish business community to Downing Street so the Prime Minister can meet representatives from key sectors.
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In the letter, she highlights the immigration policy announced last week has caused concern in “many sectors” in Scotland.
She said: “More than half of all roles in Scotland would not meet the salary threshold you have set, rising to as many as 90% in our vital social care sector.
“Many other sectors of the economy are clear that the plan to end free movement and introduce this new system in its place has not been designed with the interests of Scotland in mind, including the production and processing sectors underpinning Scotland’s world-class food and drink industry, the construction sector delivering on investments in housing and infrastructure, and the tourism and hospitality sectors that make Scotland one of the best places in the world to visit.”
Sturgeon said the proposals she unveiled last month for a flexible “Scottish visa” system – rejected by the UK Government – had attracted support from businesses, trade unions, third sector, local government and academic experts.
She added: “An immigration system which truly delivers for the whole of the UK also needs to deliver for Scotland.
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“My Government has been in contact with representatives of key sectors of Scotland’s economy who would like to join me in a meeting with you, in Downing Street, to discuss the impact your new policy and the changes we believe should be made in order to prevent serious and lasting harm to Scotland’s economy and services as a result of your migration policy.”
The YouGov poll found 42% of people in Scotland thought immigration levels were about right, while 12% thought it was too low. A further 15% said they did not know.
The equivalent figures for the rest of the UK were 33% and 6%, while 13% did not know.
The region of England most against current immigration levels was the North, where 53% said they believed it was too high.
Chris Curtis, political research manager at YouGov, said: “New YouGov polling shows that almost half of Brits believe that immigration into Britain is too high.
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“There are, however, regional disparities across Great Britain, with Scotland the region least likely to say immigration is too high and most likely to say it’s about right.”
Under the new proposals, the minimum salary for skilled migrants has been dropped from £30,000 to £25,600, with each required to score 70 points on the UK Government’s new scale, which includes criteria such as speaking English or if they have a job offer from a Home Office “approved sponsor”.
But the Scottish Government argues a different approach is needed in Scotland. It argues this is essential because of the country’s ageing population and to prevent population decline, especially in rural areas.
Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, which represents independent social care providers, has warned that unless there are “significant changes” to the current proposals, the “provision of essential life preserving care and support across Scotland will become impossible.”
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