The Home Office slapped down the calls from a majority of MSPs after an SNP Government motion, and a Green amendment, passed last Thursday.
The motion called for the UK Government to “accept the Rural Visa Pilot proposal … to ensure that the needs of Scotland’s employers, communities and public services are fully reflected within the immigration system”.
The Green amendment added calls for Labour to “remove the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) conditions that limit the support and services available to many, especially those seeking asylum”.
The majority calls from Holyrood came after Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie, speaking before the General Election, told The Herald that a new Labour government would be open to talks with ministers in Edinburgh about a “Scottish visa”.
Previously, a UK Labour government introduced a bespoke Scottish “Fresh Talent” scheme to allow university graduates to stay in the country for two years.
However, the Home Office said it was not considering a reboot of the idea after suggestions from Scottish Labour MP last October – and has issued a similar dismissal to the Holyrood motion.
A Home Office spokesperson told The National: “We are taking action to link the immigration and skills systems to better address gaps in the labour market.
“Whilst migrants make a valuable contribution to Scotland and the wider UK, we are not considering this policy.”
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Responding, SNP MSP and former minister Emma Roddick said Labour showing “a blatant disregard for Scotland’s bespoke immigration needs is incredibly disappointing but not surprising”.
She went on: “Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie signalled during the General Election campaign that Labour was open to talks on a Scottish visa but since coming to power has refused to engage in any discussions on the matter.
“The SNP has long called for a Scottish visa to address labour shortages in Scotland due to Westminster’s hard Brexit and anti-immigration policies, neither of which Scotland voted for.
“The SNP will continue to push Labour to come good on its election promise and address the unnecessary damage caused to our economy and public services including the NHS.”
Green MSP Maggie Chapman said “Scotland should have the right to make our own decisions on immigration and to reach out to the world around us, and a rural visa pilot is a crucial part of that”.
Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper”Brexit has been a disaster for Scotland, both in terms of the impact it has had on prices and the cost of living, but also on our right to live and travel across Europe and for people from elsewhere who would choose to come here for love, work or education,” she went on.
“A lot of businesses and communities across rural Scotland have been hammered by Brexit and the devastating impacts it has had.
“The people of Scotland did not vote for Brexit and do not support it. Keir Starmer knows this: he was one of those who led the movement for a referendum to reverse the decision.”
She added that NRPF is a “particularly racist and cruel policy that has no place in any humane migration system”.
“Nobody should be made homeless, forced into destitution, or have their human rights ignored, regardless of their immigration status,” Chapman said. “NRPF puts people in danger and prevents them from accessing essential lifeline services in times of need, leaving them open to exploitation.”