Anas Sarwar faces embarrassment as immigration talks yield no results for Scotland
London: So, it looks like Anas Sarwar is in a bit of hot water again. This week, Labour’s immigration minister, Seema Malhotra, didn’t really back him up on his claims about separate immigration policies for Scotland. Ouch!
During a debate, an SNP MP asked if Sarwar was chatting with the government about a special Scottish visa. But Malhotra just danced around the question without giving a clear answer. Not a great look for Sarwar, right?
He had previously mentioned having talks with the Home Secretary about Scotland’s unique migration needs. He even wanted to revisit the Fresh Talent scheme, which helped foreign grads stay in Scotland. But it seems those talks didn’t go anywhere.
Malhotra only said she was in touch with some Scottish MPs but didn’t confirm if she spoke with Sarwar. It’s like she left him hanging! Sarwar has been trying to balance his stance, saying there should be one immigration system for the UK while hinting at special measures for Scotland.
Some Scottish Labour MPs think Scotland needs more immigration, especially in agriculture and tourism, since Brexit made things tougher. But Malhotra shot that down, saying they won’t be changing immigration policy for Scotland.
After the debate, the SNP MP called Sarwar’s situation embarrassing. He pointed out that Sarwar is just trying to grab headlines, but when it comes to Scotland’s needs, the Labour leadership isn’t listening.
He argued that Scotland’s sectors are desperate for workers, but the Labour government isn’t helping. Sarwar’s claims of having influence over the party in London are being called into question, and it’s clear he’s not getting the support he needs.
In the end, it looks like Sarwar has some serious work to do if he wants to prove he can stand up for Scotland. The SNP is ready to keep pushing for what Scotland really needs.
