Keir Starmer calls on British businesses to reduce ‘immigration dependency’

Keir Starmer has said that British businesses need to reduce their “immigration dependency” and invest in UK staff.

Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Conference today (22 November), the Labour leader said that firms should invest “in training workers who are already here”.

He added: “The days when low pay and cheap labour are part of the British way of growth must end. This isn’t about Brexit. All around the world, business is waking up to the fact we live in a new era for labour. And while they’re adapting, our low-wage model is holding us back.”

Starmer said “low paid, insecure, sometimes exploitative contracts” had been prioritised over investment in “new technology that delivers for workers, productivity and our country”.

It comes after the immigration minister Robert Jenrick told Sky News that UK businesses should be “looking to the British workforce in the first instance”.

However, Tony Danker, director general of the CBI, told delegates at the conference that immigration is the “only thing that’s increased the potential growth of our economy since March”.

Recent data from CGA by NielsenIQ and Fourth revealed that one in nine hospitality jobs remain vacant despite improvements in recruitment.

Staff turnover was at 8.3% this September, the equivalent to one in 12 workers leaving their post, the highest level since March 2020.

Hospitality businesses have repeatedly called for the introduction of a visa scheme to mitigate staff shortages. A petition was launched in August and the issue was raised at the London HospoDemo protest held last Monday.

*Image: ComposedPix / Shutterstock *