SNP demands Tories drop post-Brexit £30,000 salary threshold

The Migration Advisory Committee’s £30,000 minimum salary threshold – which does not cater for Scotland’s demographic needs - was contained in the controversial Immigration White Paper released in December.

63 per cent of workers in Scotland currently earn below that level and such a threshold would be devastating for industries such as tourism, hospitality, agriculture and the care sector.

The Federation of Small Business (FSB) and Confederation of British Industry have slammed the salary threshold plans together with Tory MSPs, with

Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins has said “the £30,000 threshold is set too high for the Scottish economy” and “frankly, isn’t going to work for the Scottish economy.”

The SNP has repeatedly called for the Scottish Parliament to have powers on immigration so that the Scottish Government can bring forward a bespoke approach that addresses Scotland’s specific needs.

Annabelle Ewing MSP said: “These Tory immigration rules are unreasonable and irrational, and we know for a fact that they will have a disproportionately negative impact on people in Scotland.

“Not only does Scotland benefit enormously culturally and economically from the contribution made by European Scots – to the tune of £4.4 billion each year - we also benefit from the opportunity that free movement gives to Scots to live and work in other EU countries.”