I WANT YOU

First minister-elect set to demand extra powers over immigration from Westminster | SNP leader promises to make the party mainstream and to prioritise child poverty 

-  PAUL HUTCHEON

FIRST minister-elect John Swinney wants Scotland to be allowed to bring in more immigrants to help solve a worker shortage crisis caused by Brexit.

Swinney said his number one ask from Westminster is extra powers to stimulate economic growth by increasing the population.

The 60-year-old is certain to become the next FM after rival Kate Forbes revealed she would not stand to be leader of the SNP.

Swinney could be sworn in next week to succeed Humza Yousaf and Forbes is expected to be given a top Cabinet job.

He has promised to restore the SNP to the "mainstream" and speculation is rife about his policy agenda. He is expected to make economic growth and cutting child poverty central to his government.

He will also prioritise public services like the NHS, where hundreds of thousands of Scots are on waiting lists.

The MSP gave a speech on 25 years of devolution to the Resolution Foundation on Monday the day Yousaf resigned.

Asked for one power he would like to be devolved from Westminster, he said: "I think the area that's got to be explored are the powers to create significantly more economic opportunity.

"I think those relate to areas around about employment policy, around business policy and around population policy.

"We all know population growth is a significant driver of economic growth."