Speaking at a land reform conference in Perth, the Highland and Islands MSP and Green rural affairs spokeswoman argued that Scotland requires a significant population boost following what she described as the “disaster of Brexit”. She noted that many migrants may arrive with skills that are increasingly scarce among the local population.
Her comments come amid tension in Inverness over plans to temporarily house 300 asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, prompting concerns about community cohesion in the Highland capital.
Burgess told delegates: “Scotland needs at least a million more people. They are not going to come from here, they are going to come from elsewhere. And they are going to come because they can no longer live where they grew up due to climate change and wars. We need to be welcoming and embracing. Many of these people may have skills and knowledge that we no longer have, particularly in working the land.”
She added that rural depopulation and an ageing population pose urgent challenges. “We need more people to build homes, provide care and support small businesses that are crying out for workers. Migration is good for Scotland and gives us the people and skills needed to rebuild our economy and power our public services, which have been badly damaged by Brexit.”
However, her remarks attracted sharp criticism across the political spectrum.
Douglas Lumsden, Scottish Conservative MSP for North East Scotland, called the comments “bonkers”, claiming they showed the Scottish Greens were “out of touch with everyday people”. He added: “Scots are rightly concerned about rising immigration levels. If Ariane Burgess had her way, we would not have any borders at all. The SNP and Labour open door approach is putting huge strain on local councils and public services and fuelling community tensions.”
Independent MSP Fergus Ewing accused the Greens of damaging Scotland’s economy through policies he said had increased building costs, discouraged landlords and hindered job creation. “It is vital the Green Party is never again part of a Scottish government,” he said, adding that he would write to party leaders urging them to rule out any future cooperation with the Greens.
Thomas Kerr, Reform UK’s Scottish spokesman, described the Greens as “absolutely delusional”, pointing to local anger in Inverness over plans to accommodate asylum seekers. “Scotland does not want and does not need more uncontrolled immigration. We need to upskill our workforce and put local people first,” he said.
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
