The Scottish government has promised a fight to defend freedom of movement as the UK moves towards Brexit. Why is the issue of immigration viewed so differently by politicians and voters on the north and south sides of the border?
If we take the not uncontroversial step of assuming that the way people voted in the referendum serves as a reasonable proxy for judging their view on immigration, then at least one intriguing question arises.
Why does the city of Sunderland in England feel so differently about these matters than Glasgow?
In June’s referendum voters in English cities voted for Brexit by 61% to 39%. Glasgow voted 67% in favour of remaining, with 33% wanting out.
Why the difference?
According to a North East Strategic Migration Partnership profile, with ‘people born abroad’ making up only 3% of the city’s population at the time of the last census, Sunderland has one of the lowest rates of inward migration of any major urban area in the UK.