The prime minister has ruled out devolving immigration powers to Scotland - despite a major Chamber of Commerce-commissioned study highlighting the benefits.
Scotland’s Urban AGE 2022 called on businesses and all levels of government to collaborate to ensure Scotland's three major cities overcome the challenges they face.
Among the recommendations of the report, commissioned by Brodies LLP, Anderson Anderson & Brown and Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh Chambers of Commerce, it called for devolved immigration policy.
It advised: "That immigration policy is devolved to ensure our cities and regions have access to the workforce they need to prosper.
"Aligned to this, Scotland needs a Net Zero Jobs Strategy to ensure that we have the requisite skills and labour force to deliver on our climate pledges."
However, Sir Keir Starmer has now dismissed outright devolving of immigration powers to Holyrood, The Times reports.
Speaking during a visit to Glasgow, he said such a move was not something his government was considering.
Starmer had expressed a desire to "reset" the relationship between governments in Holyrood and Westminster, but, asked if this could involve devolving immigration powers, he said: “No, we’re not looking at that.”
Devolved immigration powers is something the Scottish government has repeatedly called for.