Dundee LibDems say all workers from EU states should be treated equally
Dundee East Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson Dr Clive Sneddon has today (Thursday 2nd November) welcomed the contribution made by workers from other European Union states to Scotland's economy, not least those from Poland, who have historic links to Scotland.
Dr Sneddon said: "This contribution fully justifies the policy of the Scottish Executive and the Liberal Democrats which seeks to grow Scotland's economy by encouraging inward migration, and thus help create jobs for Scots as well.
"It makes a nonsense of the policy of Tony Blair's New Labour Party, which claims to prevent workers from the new EU member states Romania and Bulgaria entering the UK. This policy will be ineffective because it allows all who wish to come to the UK and stay to work if self-employed. Its only possible effect is to demonise hard-working Romanians and Bulgarians, when what we need in Scotland is harmony, not enmity or fear.
Dr Sneddon concluded, "The Liberal-led government of Romania has succeeded in kick-starting a Romanian economic revival, and is rightly looking to sensible economic policies from existing EU states to help the development of the new member states.
"This includes opening borders in both directions for those seeking work within the EU. The UK government should help Scotland as well as the rest of the UK by treating Romania and Bulgaria exactly the same as it did the ten EU member states who joined in 2004."