FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The findings cast a major doubt over Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that Scotland is more welcoming to foreign people than other parts of the United Kingdom. A survey funded by Brexit campaigner Mev Brown found 45 per cent of voters agreed that EU citizens out of work for six months or more should have to return to their country of origin.

GETTY Nicola Sturgeon previously claimed that Scotland is very welcoming to foreign people

A further 30 per cent think the long term unemployed should have to apply for a visa while 25 per cent think they should be allowed to remain indefinitely. The BMG poll of 1,041 Scots voters carried out last week also found that 46 per cent believe homeless EU migrants or those living in temporary accommodation should be sent packing after Brexit. A further 28 per cent think they should have to apply for a visa while 27 per cent think they should be given the right to remain. When it comes to convicted criminals from the EU, an overwhelming 81 per cent of Scots believe they should have to return to their country of origin. Only seven per cent believe convicted criminals should be allowed to stay without question, while 13 per cent think they should have to apply for a visa. EU citizens in full or part time work and claiming in-work benefits should be given the right to remain indefinitely, according to 46 per cent of Scots.

GETTY 45 per cent of Scots want EU citizens out of work for six months to return home to their own country

Scots clearly want an immigration policy where the best interests of the country determines who is allowed to stay and who can come into the country after Brexit. Mev Brown, Brexit campaigner

However, 42 per cent believe they should have to apply for a visa in order to stay after Brexit and 12 per cent believe they should return home. The biggest vote of confidence was for EU migrants in full or part time work who are not claiming any benefits, with 71 per cent backing them to stay. A further 26 per cent believe this group should have to apply for a visa, while only two per cent think they should be asked to leave Scotland. The poll findings reveal that women are much more likely than men to think EU citizens should have to return home or apply for a visa after Brexit. In the months since the vote to leave the EU, the SNP has repeatedly attempted to make political capital out of the uncertain status of 173,000 EU citizens in Scotland.

GETTY 26 per cent believe employed EU migrants not claiming benefits should have to apply for a visa

Although EU migrants are more likely to have a job than British people, figures show that around 25 per cent are not in work - which would translate to about 43,500 people north of the Border. Mr Brown, former chief spokesman for Brexit campaign group Business for Britain in Scotland, said: “The polling data very much reflects the conversations I had during the Brexit campaign. "Scots clearly want an immigration policy where the best interests of the country determines who is allowed to stay and who can come into the country after Brexit. "In short, Scots do not support the SNP's soft touch, open door, 'free for all' immigration policy. Indeed, the findings show how sophisticated Scots voters are. "There is a clear recognition of the contribution foreign workers make to the Scottish economy and that foreign workers are welcome in Scotland. "However, when looking at long term benefit claimants, that support falls significantly. Forty five percent of Scots think long term benefit claimants should be sent home when we leave the EU.

TWITTER Brexit campaigner Mev Brown thinks the data shows that Scots are wanting a fixed immigration policy

Brexit day: images from around the country as Britain invokes Article 50 Mon, April 3, 2017 The country reacts as Theresa May officially invokes Article 50, and begins the process of Britain leaving the European Union Play slideshow EPA 1 of 22 Pro-EU demonstrators protest outside Parliament