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Case for freedom of movement
One of the most damaging failures of the British political class over the last 40 years has been their collective refusal to make the case for immigration.
Successive UK governments have pursued policies that increased the number of migrants entering the country without ever properly explaining the many benefits.
The misplaced public resentment this bred helped fuel the anger that led to the Brexit vote.
So it’s extremely refreshing to hear Nicola Sturgeon make a passionate argument for the EU’s freedom of movement policy.
The SNP leader yesterday published research pointing out that every citizen from another EU country working in Scotland generates an average of £10,400 in tax.
And she said workers from other parts of Europe make a “vital contribution” to the NHS and play a key role in our export industries.
There are few governments in Europe that would make such a full-throated defence of immigration. It’s practically unthinkable that any other “nationalist” government would.
Taking such a strong line is fraught with risks. Many Scots voters are just as sceptical about immigration as those in England.
But it is a fact that the future of our economy depends on EU migrants. It’s one reason why a hard Brexit would be such a disaster.
Yet Labour and the Tories continue to be spineless when it comes to making the case. Theresa May remains a hostage to hard-right Brexiteers on her backbenches and Jeremy Corbyn refuses to take a firm stand.
That’s led to the odd spectacle of the SNP being the political party who have produced the most serious and detailed response to the unprecedented challenges posed by Brexit.
Sturgeon’s credibility on the issue was undermined by her clumsy linking of it to Scottish independence in last year’s aborted call for a second referendum.
But the First Minister deserves much credit for having the courage of her convictions when it comes to standing up for EU citizens who want to make their home here.
Snouts in trough
It's hard to decide which aspect of this scandal is the most insulting.
Is it that Carillion chairman Philip Green (no relation but talk about what’s in a name) was such a big Tory supporter that David Cameron made him his “corporate responsibility” adviser?
Or is it that Cameron gave Green a CBE for “services to business”, despite the company unlawfully blacklisting workers?
Or is it that, despite Carillion issuing three profit warnings in six months, the Tories awarded them three massive new contracts?
Or is it that bosses ran up a huge pension deficit while paying themselves a fortune?
Or is it that they changed the rules to protect their bonuses in case of collapse – months before £600million was wiped off their shares?
Tory-supporting bosses growing fat on the public purse believing the state would take over their debts if they failed – hence begging the government for a bankers-style bailout – are the lowest form of parasite.
Carillion’s collapse is a classic tale of how a country the Tories say is supposed to “work for everyone” works only for the few at the top.
Here is the only possible conclusion to be drawn: If you back the Tory party or you are one of their chums, it’s fill your boots time.
And if you fail, well there are still rich rewards.
