Hotel owner slams ‘xenophobic’ rhetoric

THE OWNER of an award-winning hotel in Shetland has vowed not to comply with any requirements to publish details of foreign workers should the proposal made at last week’s Tory party conference ever become law.

Caroline McKenzie of Scalloway Hotel described the idea as “shameful” and “xenophobic”.

During last week’s Birmingham conference and in subsequent media interviews, home secretary Amber Rudd outlined plans that would see companies be forced to publish lists of non-British staff.

Mackenzie said: “I can’t see us ever complying with this name and shame policy.

“We value all our workforce regardless of their nationality and background.

“Apart from anything else, the hospitality industry in the UK would collapse overnight without its foreign workers.”

McKenzie added that she was concerned the proposal would only reinforce the scaremongering rhetoric from sections of the ‘Leave’ campaign about foreign workers stealing British jobs.

Meanwhile, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged Scottish companies to “boycott” the Conservatives’ plans.