SNP ministers have quietly shelved their policy that Scotland should have full powers over immigration, The MoS can reveal.
As tensions flare over the housing of asylum seekers in hotels and student halls in Scotland, documents show the Scottish Government’s new ‘position’ is ‘not to seek devolution of immigration powers’.
It represents a significant U-turn over the SNP’s long-held belief that Holyrood ministers should have separate powers to make immigration and asylum decisions north of the border.
But critics last night accused the Scottish Government of failing to let voters know that its policy had changed.
They pointed to First Minister John Swinney insisting that Scotland needs a ‘separate’ approach to immigration earlier this month.
