Scottish independence would 'reverse population decline and boost economy' says Humza Yousaf

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scottish independence would reverse the country's population decline and boost the economy in the process, Humza Yousaf will argue today.The First Minister will announce Scotland would adopt a citizenship model similar to that of Ireland if it ever votes to leave the UK.Yousaf will today launch his government's fifth paper on independence, focusing on immigration and citizenship.The Scottish Government has long-advocated increased immigration to cope with an ageing population.Nicola Sturgeon previously published plans for a separate Scottish visa in 2020 only to see the plan rejected by Westminster.Yousaf will announce that anyone with a parent born in Scotland will be able to apply for Scottish citizenship if the country leaves the UK.The paper will also lay out the rights of British nationals to claim dual citizenship, as well as how the process for foreign nationals to apply will be streamlined.Speaking ahead of the launch, the First Minister said: "I’ll outline the Scottish Government’s proposals for citizenship in an independent Scotland – they are inclusive, bold, and they will help boost both our population and economy."Scotland’s working population is being hit by a heartless Westminster migration system that isn’t fit for purpose, and a hard Brexit that Scotland didn’t vote for, making our population challenges significantly worse."I am in no doubt that alongside the climate crisis, the challenges of an ageing population are one of the biggest issues future generations will face in Scotland, unless action is taken today."The Scottish Government wants to make it easier for people, including those seeking to reconnect with family roots, to gain citizenship and contribute to our economy, society and public services