Scotland has a population of  5,436,600, according to the 2022 Census.

The population of Scotland grew by 141,200 (2.7%) since the previous census in 2011. This is a slower rate of growth than between 2001 and 2011, when the population grew by 233,400 (4.6%). Without migration the population of Scotland would have decreased by around 49,800 since 2011. Scotland’s census

Scotland also has an ageing population with over one million people aged 65 and over. The number of people in older age groups (65 plus) increased by 22.5% since 2011.

Scotland needs to not only retain its young and their families , but it also needs migrants – people coming to live and work in Scotland.

Migration is a power retained by the UK Parliament, so whoever is in No. 10 will decide on the migration policy for the whole of the UK. Will the manifesto promises be what Scotland needs to thrive when it comes to Migration?

The Conservatives: ‘Clear Plan, Bold Action, Secure Future’

The Tories pledge to “Introduce a legal cap on migration to guarantee that numbers will fall every year” and that ‘immigration is too high’.

• bring migration numbers down to sustainable levels
• implemented changes which mean that 300,000 people who were eligible to come the UK last year now couldn’t.
• Ended the ability of almost all international students and all care workers to bring dependants.
• Scrapped cut-price shortage labour from overseas, by abolishing the 20% going rate salary discount for shortage occupations.
• increased the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas by 48% to £38,700.
• raised the minimum income for family visas to £38,700.
• raise the Skilled Worker threshold and Family income requirement with inflation automatically
• set a binding legal cap on migration
• increasing the immigration Health Surcharge to £1,035 and require migrants to undergo a health check
• increase all visa fees and remove the student discount to the Immigration Health Surcharge
• No return to freedom of movement

Labour., ‘Change’

Labour plans to ‘bring down migration’.

• a points-based immigration system for workers and businesses
• reduce the need for international recruitment
•  New powers to ban hiring from overseas for employers and recruitment agencies who break employment law. 
• No return to Freedom of Movement

Scottish National Party (SNP) ‘A Future Made In Scotland’

The SNP want the UK Parliament to “Devolve powers to create a bespoke migration system for Scotland that values those who decide to work, live, study and invest here and allows us to address our specific demographic and economic needs.”

• Agree an EU-wide youth mobility scheme so that young people can benefit from the opportunities that living, working and studying in the EU can bring.
• Rejoin the EU on Independence for Freedom of movement to live, visit, study and work freely in any EU country, and access to workers from across the EU
• call for the reversal of recent moves to stop care workers from overseas bringing their families with them to work in the UK

Liberal Democrats ‘For A Fair Deal’

The LibDems will :

• Transfer policy-making over work visas and overseas students out of the Home Office and into other departments.
• establish a flexible merit-based system for work visas
• Exempt NHS and care staff from the £1,000-a-year Immigration Skills Charge, and reverse the Conservatives’ ban on care workers bringing partners and children.
• Expand the Youth Mobility Scheme
• Reverse the increase to income thresholds for family visas
• Reduce the fee for registering a child as a British citizen from £1,214 to the cost of administration
• simplify Immigration rules
• Expand access to immigration legal advice

Scottish Green Party  ‘Vote Like Our Future Depends On It’

The Scottish Greens believe that Scotland “is fundamentally enriched and enhanced by the people who choose to build their lives here”

The Greens want:

• the UK Government to grant the Scottish government the powers to set its own priorities for immigration
• an immediate removal of all income requirements on spousal visas

Most of the manifestos interlink Migration with those seeking Asylum and Refugees. The Orkney News covered those in #Refugees #GE24 – Manifesto Pledges Both Labour and the Conservatives have pledged to ‘Stop the Boats’.

In this article we have focussed on those who are wishing to migrate to Scotland for work, study or family reasons – not those seeking refuge and fleeing from conflict, persecution and war.

If Scotland is to flourish it will need a country where its young people wish to work and build their futures, but it will also need the diversity and ambition that migrants bring.

The candidates standing in the Orkney and Shetland Constituency at the General Election on 4th of July are:

Fiona Grahame