As a member of both the Finance and Economy committees in the Scottish Parliament I typically read over 100 pages of official economic and financial papers each week. I often read additional analysis to ensure I’m up to date.
Recently, I have been particularly interested in how to boost the economy. From a strictly economic point of view, the two most significant initiatives would be to rejoin the European Single Market and to encourage immigration, attracting those workers we so desperately need. In Falkirk East, many businesses have been badly affected by Brexit, and the ending of free movement with our European neighbours has prevented us from recruiting the many people we need to attract to come and work here.
Sadly, the Scottish Parliament lacks the powers to either rejoin the European Single market, or to attract workers from elsewhere. The powers to do so lie exclusively with Westminster. But the principal problem is a political one. Both the Tory and Labour Parties are committed to a hard Brexit and to blocking recruitment of people from overseas. Neither will take the action needed to improve the situation.
This attitude was brought home particularly strongly recently by an interview with Sir Keith Starmer, leader of the Labour Party. He made it clear the Labour Party is for Brexit and against attracting workers from abroad. Here is precisely what he said.
“We don't want open borders. Freedom of movement has gone and it's not coming back.
I think we're recruiting too many people from overseas into, for example, the health service.”
I want to make it abundantly clear I welcome all those who have come to work in Scotland including as doctors and nurses in our Scottish NHS. I find the attitude of Sir Keir Starmer insulting and deplorable.
Besides not wanting to support Scotland’s needs regarding the economy, he also made it clear he fully supports the Tory position of denying the Scottish people a referendum on our future. Worse still, when asked what democratic route the Scottish people should use to have their choice of future realized, he provided no answer. In other words, he denied we should have the right to determine our future.
However, I am committed to keep fighting for the cause of Scottish democracy and economic development. Falkirk East deserves nothing less.
We cannot allow the Tory and Labour Parties to get their way and continue to damage Scotland’s economy and deny our democratic rights.