Responding to Priti Patel’s claim that UK staff shortages can be dealt with by training 8.45 million people who are economically inactive, Christine Jardine MP, Liberal Democrat Home Affair spokesperson said: “This claim is yet more evidence that the Tory Government does not care a jot about people’s lives.
“Rather than allowing people to travel to the UK and contribute to our economy by working, Priti Patel would rather drag people out of education, out of retirement and out of hospital beds and set them to work.
“What’s more, they are unfairly deeming whole sectors ‘low skilled’ when they are nothing of the sort. Shortages of overseas workers will affect the most vital sectors of our economy and society, not least our health service and social care sector. We can’t just pull the plug on our international workforce and expect the country to flourish.
“Liberal Democrats will oppose these destructive policies and continue our fight for a fair, effective immigration system that works for our economy and treats everyone with dignity and respect.”