Swinney says Scottish government will sponsor visas for foreign care workers

First minister tells SNP conference older people should not ‘pay the price for Westminster’s prejudice’ over immigration

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John Swinney has said the Scottish government will help hundreds of overseas care workers stay in the UK as he attacked Westminster for its rising hostility to migrants.

The first minister said it was unfair Scotland’s older people had to “pay the price for Westminster’s prejudice”, and that his devolved government would sponsor visa applications for migrant workers needed to staff care homes, at a cost of about £500,000.