WORLD NEWS FEBRUARY 18, 2019 / 7:09 PM / UPDATED 16 MINUTES AGO

Scotland to step up efforts to keep EU citizens after Brexit, Sturgeon says

Elisabeth O'Leary
3 MIN READ

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland will step up efforts to persuade EU citizens to stay after Brexit, its First Minister will tell French lawmakers on Tuesday, amid concerns about potential workforce shortages in the largest of the United Kingdom’s three smaller nations.

Nicola Sturgeon, who supports Scottish independence from the United Kingdom, will tell French lawmakers that Britain’s proposals for its exit from the European Union and limitations on freedom of movement will damage Scotland’s economy more than Britain as a whole.

Small business and tourism associations have warned of labor shortages already occurring for remote, low-paid work such as food processing and hospitality which are key to Scottish economic success and depend heavily on EU workers.

Political tension has increased between Sturgeon’s devolved government, which opposes Brexit, and Britain’s divided Conservative government struggling to deliver Brexit by March 29.

Unhappiness over Brexit within Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party is also pressurizing her to reignite a push for independence as the impending break with the EU pushes British politics to its limits.

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