Scotland’s migration debate intensifies ahead of the May Scottish parliament election, with the Scottish National Party warning the country needs more migrants to support its economy, while other parties raise concerns about housing pressures and system capacity. The rise of the far-right Reform UK also reflects broader public tensions over asylum and immigration.
Scotland is facing a growing debate over migration, with ministers warning that the country is not receiving enough migrants to meet economic and social needs. At the same time, opponents argue that the system is under strain.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show, Scottish National Party (SNP) Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan said Scotland is receiving "too few" migrants and defended immigration as essential to the country’s future.
"We are a welcoming nation," she said, adding that migration was "good for the economy, especially hospitality, health and social care, and business."
Her comments came during a Holyrood election (Scottish Parliament) debate involving six political parties, where migration was one of the most contested issues. Though parties broadly agreed immigration is important, they were divided on scale and management. Reform UK’s Thomas Kerr argued the system had reached a breaking point, while Conservatives said public confidence had been lost. Liberal Democrats and Labour both backed immigration as economically necessary, and the Scottish Greens described it as "valuable".
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Migration divides Scottish politics
Although immigration policy is reserved for the UK government and parliament, it has become a central issue in Scottish politics. A BBC Scotland opinion survey earlier this year found immigration ranked as the fourth most important issue for voters, after the cost of living, health and the economy.
McAllan also acknowledged pressure on housing but argued it should not be blamed on migration alone. She said economic conditions had "depressed construction" and contributed to housing shortages, while highlighting government targets to expand affordable housing supply.
The far-right Reform UK party, however, has tied migration and asylum to housing pressures. Kerr claimed changes to homelessness rules were increasing strain on local authorities, particularly in Glasgow. He said people arriving through asylum routes were being prioritized over local residents, a claim disputed by ministers.
Labour’s Michael Marra rejected Reform’s framing as inflammatory, arguing that people fleeing conflict "have to be accommodated somewhere," and calling instead for accelerated housebuilding.
The Liberal Democrats’ Christine Jardine noted that Scotland faces a "massive skills gap" and warned that sectors such as social care risk collapse without migrant workers. She also argued that asylum seekers should be allowed to work while their claims are processed, saying this would help fill labour shortages and support integration.
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Housing becomes flashpoint in upcoming Scottish parliament elections
The debate comes amid broader political and social tensions around immigration in Scotland.
Reform UK has gained traction in parts of Scotland by tapping into concerns about housing, public services and national identity. At rallies, party figures have claimed asylum seekers are "pushed to the back of the [housing] queue," while activists and anti-racism groups have warned of rising hostility towards migrants in some areas, The Guardian newspaper reported.
Communities across Scotland are experiencing division, according to The Guardian, with protests both for and against asylum housing, particularly in parts of Aberdeen and central Scotland, being reported. Anti-racism activists say Scotland remains broadly welcoming but warn that discriminatory rhetoric has become more visible and stronger in recent years.
As Scotland heads towards elections in May, asylum housing has also become a flashpoint in local politics, with some residents expressing unease about migrants being housed in hotels. "I don’t feel safe, I don’t feel comfortable," French news agency AFP cited one resident as saying.
Despite these tensions, analysts argue that Scotland’s immigration debate is shaped by competing pressures: an ageing population, labour shortages and economic reliance on migration, alongside public anxiety over housing and public services.
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