Scotland raises ‘Brexodus’ fears after fall in net migration The UK Government has been accused of actively damaging the Scottish economy through its approach to Brexit, after official figures […]

The UK Government has been accused of actively damaging the Scottish economy through its approach to Brexit, after official figures showed net migration has fallen to its lowest level for three years.

Ministers faced claims that they had prompted a “Brexodus” after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a surge in the number of EU nationals leaving the UK in the wake of last June’s referendum.

“I no longer think we are best served by a one-size-fits-all immigration policy” The i newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription. Nicola Sturgeon

The overall UK net migration figure was 246,000 in 2016/17, a fall of 81,000 compared with the previous year.

It was driven by the number of EU nationals leaving the UK increasing by 33,000 in the space of a year to 122,000, the highest outflow for nearly a decade.

There was a particularly sharp rise in departures of migrants from the so-called “EU8” countries which joined the union in 2004, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Hungary.

The number of migrants arriving from the EU also fell by 19,000, although the ONS described this as not “statistically significant”.

The decline was welcomed by the UK Government, but business groups raised concerns about a possible labour shortage.

The CBI warned that “the loss of these vital skills should concern us all”, while the Institute of Directors said “no one should celebrate” the figures.

The UK Government has a long-standing target of cutting net migration to under 100,000.

However, there is general political agreement in Scotland that levels of immigration should be maintained rather than cut for the economy to grow, with working age migrants needed to fill jobs.

Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said the statistics showed that the devolved nations should be given the ability to set their own immigration levels after Brexit.

“We know because of the demographics of our population that we have perhaps an even greater need to attract skills, the best and brightest talent from across Europe and the world,” she added.

“That is one of the reasons why I no longer think we are best served by a one-size-fits-all immigration policy.

“Not just for Scotland but perhaps for London and other parts of the UK, there needs to be more flexibility to decide what is right for the needs of our own economies.”

Labour MP Ian Murray, speaking on behalf of the campaign group Open Britain, warned that a “Brexodus” of EU citizens would damage the economy, universities and public services.

The SNP’s immigration spokesman Stuart McDonald added: “The Tory Government’s extreme approach to Brexit and immigration is actively damaging the economy – making the UK a less attractive place to live and work, and threatening businesses, jobs, and communities across the country.

“By driving away the very EU workers that our key industries and public services rely on, the UK Government threatens to make businesses unviable in a reckless act of self-sabotage.”

However, Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis described the fall in net migration as “encouraging”.

He added: “People who come to our country to work bring significant benefits to the UK, but there is no consent for uncontrolled immigration.”