Immigration challenges to Scotland after Brexit

Abstract

The negotiations regarding the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union have raised a number of questions relating to the future relationship between the UK and the EU. The impact of Brexit on Scotland will be considerable in economic terms and in terms of employment in the case of a ‘no deal’ with the EU. Britain’s withdrawal from the EU has also had an impact on the Scottish constitutional debate: the referendum results have revived the independence debate and led to calls for more devolved powers on immigration. Taking into consideration the restrictive orientation of the British Conservative-led government on immigration, the Scottish government is faced with questions on how to deal with immigration after Brexit. Brexit raises both challenges and opportunities for decision-makers in Scotland as relates to policies dedicated to immigrants in the context of the nation-building project. Using official government reports on immigration and Brexit as well as election manifestos, the following paper discusses the evolution and orientation of immigration in Scotland after leaving the EU and the resulting challenges and opportunities for the decision-makers in terms of the nation-building project in Scotland.