First Minister John Swinney has announced that the Scottish government will sponsor visa applications for hundreds of overseas care workers, costing approximately £500,000. Speaking at the SNP conference in Aberdeen, Swinney criticised Westminster's immigration policies, stating that older people in Scotland should not 'pay the price for Westminster’s prejudice'.
Swinney described the UK government's decision to restrict visas for care workers as 'deeply damaging', leaving thousands of legally employed care workers unable to work while care homes face staff shortages. He argued this demonstrates that Scotland's interests are harmed by continued membership of the UK.
The First Minister confirmed that a fresh push for independence will be central to next year's Scottish parliament elections. He outlined a vision of Scotland thriving with independence, rejoining the EU, and leveraging its renewable energy resources. Swinney claimed the SNP could win an overall majority of 65 seats at Holyrood, which he argued would form a mandate for a new independence referendum.
However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has repeatedly rejected this approach, stating the UK government will not grant legal powers for a referendum. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander noted that Labour MPs were elected on a manifesto pledge against a second independence vote. Nicola Sturgeon, former first minister, acknowledged that winning an overall majority would be an 'exceptionally hard task' due to Holyrood's proportional voting system.
Swinney hinted at a potential legal challenge if the SNP wins a majority and Starmer continues to block a referendum, drawing on the precedent of the 2011 election when Alex Salmond's majority led to a temporary legal power for the 2014 vote. The SNP aims to re-engage pro-independence voters who shifted to Labour in the last general election.
