THE UK Government has shrugged off an urgent request for joint talks on Brexit from the Scottish and Welsh governments, the Sunday National can reveal.
This week Scotland’s Migration Minister Ben Macpherson and Jeremy Miles, the Welsh Government’s European Transition Minister, revealed it has been 15 months since they were granted a sit-down with their UK counterpart over post-Brexit immigration rules.
Raising “increasing” concerns about the impact on healthcare, housing and more, they released an official letter to Kevin Foster, the UK’s Minister for Future Borders that repeated their “urgent request for a meeting between all four nations”.
The pair said devolved governments “have not been given an opportunity to meaningfully engage” on the impact of the end of freedom of movement”, despite the impact on areas they are responsible for. The letter went on: “Given the crucial importance of keeping all our citizens safe now and as we emerge from the pandemic, it is vitally important that we seek to work together on areas where devolved and reserved issues intersect, like migration.
“We hope that we can rely on your cooperation and engagement, and that a meeting is arranged prior to the end of the transition period, to ensure the future prosperity of all nations of the UK.”
At the time, the Home Office did not respond to requests for comment. But in a statement to the Sunday National, the UK Government dismissed the concerns of the SNP and Labour administrations, saying: “We have introduced a fair points-based immigration system which works in the interests of the whole of our United Kingdom, with Home Office ministers engaging directly with employers, higher education, charities, faith groups and grant funded organisations across Scotland and Wales in the design of the new system.
“Yet the UK’s immigration system cannot be seen as a ‘magic bullet’ solution to issues or problems which are the responsibility of the devolved administrations.
“Our new system will ensure we attract the brightest and the best from around the world, whilst ensuring employers prioritise investment in UK-based workers and getting back to work those across our Union who have been affected by the economic impacts of Covid-19, rather than turning to immigration for recruitment at or near the minimum wage instead.”
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