Scotland can’t survive Keir Starmer’s migration crackdown

IF you thought Keir Starmer’s cover version of Enoch Powell’s 1960s “Rivers of Blood” was grim, just wait until Badenoch and Farage start singing, individually or as a duet.

They’ll chorus the same lines but with greater gusto, and an even harsher tone. That Starmer was praised by Farage at Prime Minister’s Questions says it all.

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour decline to endorse the words but won’t repudiate the tune, and nor can they absolve themselves of the consequences. On this as on most things, they’re simply mime artists for the London sound.

But welcome to the future.

This is the United Kingdom of the third decade of the 21st century and it's only going to get worse. For the words will be matched by actions. Starmer has already embarked on a course that’s not just cruel but fundamentally damaging to Scotland’s economy and society.

Yet again this highlights why a plebiscite election is required on independence, as the future in the UK is frightening and time is of the essence.

Pleading yet again for a referendum or even more grovellingly just the powers to hold one will find no greater favour than the eminently sensible request for a distinct immigration system for Scotland. The latter is not earth-shattering and has operated successfully in other lands including Canada and Australia.

Allowing areas with specific needs to access migration without impacting on the overall requirements of other parts of the land. It was pushed admirably by the SNP’s Stuart McDonald in the last parliament and has been picked up in this one by Stephen Gethins.

It even operated to an extent under a Labour-Liberal Democrat executive in Holyrood 20 years ago with the Fresh Talent scheme. But post-Brexit, uber-Unionism has a selective memory and no appetite for any additional powers for Scotland, no matter how modest or sensible they might be.

There’s rightly been condemnation that Starmer’s language will only fuel hatred and worsen fears – but he expected that and in many ways welcomes it. It’s all part of Starmer’s strategy to head off Reform UK when in fact all he’s doing is driving their agenda forward.

It won’t see them off, any more than John Swinney’s grand summit on the far right did. It’s simply playing their tune and all the time building up their profile. Leaving aside for the moment the political and moral arguments, there’s the impact on our society and economy. Scotland is an ageing society. The birth rate is not addressing population requirements.

Fewer will be contributing to a tax base from which more will be seeking to be supported. That’s not helped by UK policies bringing industrial closures or the lack of affordable housing in many areas, leading to further emigration.

The loss of so many for so long is coming back to haunt Scotland. It’s great to have a diaspora, but it’s even more essential to have enough folk at home to do the jobs that need done.

Already we were losing a skills base with people departing following the closure of the Grangemouth refinery and the running down in the North Sea.

That labour shortage is now being matched in other sectors. It’s why my namesake Donald Macaskill – no relation, I should add – from Scottish Care spoke out so vehemently about Labour’s plans to end the care worker visa.

It’s a sector that is already under pressure in Scotland, with shortages of staff and many in need struggling to access suitable care.

Denigration of the job is simply wrong.

It might not require the academic qualifications of other roles but it’s a skill requiring kindness, compassion, knowledge and lots of sheer hard work.

There just aren’t enough folk in Scotland to do it, even if we skill up people who are out of work or lost to the labour market for whatever reason. We need to recruit people from abroad.

Starmer’s proposals will leave services simply unable to cope.

Of course, the super-rich will still be able to pay the premium for private care. Whether those working in that sector will be as properly remunerated as they deserve to be will be another matter. Areas will become care deserts, especially in the most-deprived parts of the country where there’s already the greatest need.

There will simply be no staff capable of providing what is required. An already struggling system will be in danger of going under.

That doesn’t mean not having rules or even making some hard choices made. But they have to both adhere to your values and allow for your social and economic needs.

All nations require an immigration policy, and criminal gangs landing people by boat has to be clamped down on. Addressing concerns within your communities is essential, but pandering to the far right is beyond the pale.

We need to keep repeating that we are All Jock Tamson’s Bairns. We’ve had shameful times during our country’s history with the treatment of Irish and Italian immigrants.

Immigration needs to be worked at but it needs the right policies and that requires the powers to decide them. The future in the UK is increasingly frightening. It’s not only damaging our economy but undermining our society.

Simply, asking for the powers whether for a second referendum or a Scottish immigration policy is doomed. A plebiscite election is not only vital for our economy but for the very the fabric of our society.

[This article was first published in The National on 19.05.25]