Swinney Calls for Tailored Migration Policy, EU Rejoining

In a recent speech, Scottish First Minister John Swinney declared that rejoining the European Union should be a national mission for Scotland, emphasizing the economic opportunities that membership could provide. He warned that failure to address Brexit's impacts would result in a 'heavy price' for the country and called for a dedicated visa system to allow international students to remain in Scotland post-graduation. However, the UK Government responded by stating that it has 'no plans' for a bespoke migration policy for Scotland, despite Swinney's appeals for collaboration on a Scottish graduate visa scheme. Swinney criticized Westminster's 'anti-growth' stance on immigration, arguing that it does not serve Scotland's economic needs. He recalled the successful Fresh Talent scheme from 2004 as a precedent for tailored migration routes and urged a renewed focus on policies beneficial to Scotland's demographics and economy. As net migration figures have surged, Swinney's call reflects a broader need for policies that support Scotland's working-age population and economic growth.