Alex Salmond has condemned Theresa May's "depressing little England" as he welcomed to the Scottish National Party (SNP) conference an Australian family who successfully fought deportation.
The former first minister was joined on stage by Gregg Brain, who gave an emotional speech to delegates gathered in Glasgow on the "horrific" battle they endured to be allowed to stay in the country.
Mr Brain, his wife Kathryn and their son Lachlan, now seven, set up home in Dingwall in 2011 but were told to quit the UK voluntarily after the Home Office said their leave to remain would not be continued.
The family initially moved to the UK on Mrs Brain's student visa but a two-year post-study visa scheme then on offer was later withdrawn by the UK Government.
Last month it was confirmed that the family could stay on a 12-month visa after Mrs Brain was offered a job with a Highland hotel group.
Mr Salmond, the SNP's foreign affairs spokesman and promoter of Scottish independence, said the Brains' experience had been a "tale of two countries and indeed of two governments".
Referring to the British government Mr Salmond said: "They say that people who choose to live and work in our country are a problem and need to be kicked out, we say they are an asset and must stay with us.
"They want lists of foreign workers so they can name and shame companies who employ them, but let me tell you the shame is not with the companies - the shame is with a government who proposed this repellent notion.
"If we stick to London rule then we know exactly what lies in store ...Theresa May's little England - has there ever been a more miserable, depressing, backward-looking notion ever offered to the people of this nation?"
Mr Brain received a rapturous reception when he appeared on stage in support of a resolution on post-study work visas.
He was joined by his wife and child and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and appeared close to tears as he thanked supporters including Mr Salmond and Ian Blackford MP.
"We have had a victory but the cost has been horrific. Financially we will probably never recover, but we are in the country where we belong for now," Mr Brain said.
"We can now plan ahead to next month, which we couldn't do before but we can't plan beyond next year yet. This is our life now.
"I would ask you to remember we're perfectly ordinary, this is what living as a student family in the UK looks like, it is the huge fees, the uncertainty, not knowing whether a perfect visa application will be accepted, not knowing if the visa will be even valid when you get there.
"This is the reality of a long-term relationship with the Home Office - no one should have to live like this. If you want to attract students, to have the world's best and brightest come to Scotland, you have to show them that they are welcome, you have to give them some measure of security and certainty.
"Scotland, you've welcomed my family with open arms, please tell the world you'll welcome future students as well."
