Nigel Farage critiques the government’s migrant plan

The Government is facing yet more migrant controversy this evening after it emerged the Home Office has thrown Britain’s borders open to bricklayers, roofers, carpenters and plasterers.

The swathe of blue collar professions was added to the Government’s list of occupation shortages, allowing foreign workers to come in and undercut domestic wages.

This evening the Sun revealed the move was a “horse-trade” deal between the Home Office and the cheap migrant-loving Treasury, in return for Suella Braverman’s department winning a tussle over foreign students in May.

This evening Tory MPs from the New Conservatives group wrote to Rishi Sunak demanding that British workers’ going rates are protected, and priority is given to young apprentices.

The influential group of pro-borders MPs said there was “no good reason” for once again relying on cheap migrant labour amid British workforce shortages.

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“These migrants and their dependents increase pressure on our public services, housing stock, and social goodwill, without making a positive financial contribution to our economy.”

Tory MP Marco Longhi tweeted that the Home Office’s move was “nuts”.

The letter from over a dozen Tory MPs, seen by the Express, says the country must “develop the skills demanded by today’s job market”.

“We are, therefore, concerned to read the proposals announced today by the Home Office to introduce new additions to the Shortage Occupation List.”

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They urge against the inclusion of the 10 new jobs on the list, saying it is “misguided” to grant migrants visas for the sectors if they can secure a job at 80 percent of the average salary.

“Undercutting market rates deflates wages for British workers and further disincentivises British people from training for these jobs. The Shortage Occupation List may seem to offer a temporary fix but it exacerbates the existing problem at the same time.”

The group cites their previous concerns about adding care workers to the shortage list.

“Although the Government expected to issue 6,000 visas under this scheme, it issued over 100,000 – with half going to dependants.

“Not only did Government predictions as to the number of visas issued under this scheme fall woefully short of reality, the influx of migrant care workers only marginally improved the overall vacancy rate in the sector, as the policy simply displaced tens of thousands of UK workers from the care sector.”

“We need to encourage our own people into the job sectors where we have shortages.”

The Express understands among those signed up to the letter were co-chairs Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates, Jonathan Gullis, Lia Nici, Brendan Clarke-Smith, Marco Longhi and Nick Fletcher.

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