Influx of foreign workers means Britons losing out

THE Government’s jobs miracle continues apace as the latest employment figures reveal a record number of people in work. However, this has only come about because 431,000 more migrants found a job here in the last year. Over the same timescale the number of British-born workers actually fell by 120,000.

Nobody can deny that many of those who come here from the EU work hard and do a good job. Nonetheless it is vital that we establish a migration policy that acts in the national interest and ensures that British workers feel the benefits of the Government’s job-creating policies. A desire to see this happen is one of the main reasons why so many people voted for Brexit.

The influx of cheap labour from Eastern Europe has increased competition putting downward pressure on wages and making it harder for Britons to find a decent paying job. This is on top of the difficulties faced by public services and the profound social change experienced by areas of high migration.

Lest we forget EU citizens can be eligible for in-work benefits. Even those who have a job can still end up being a significant burden on the welfare state.

With so many Britons out of work the claims from big businesses that without open borders they will struggle to hire enough staff ring hollow.

The reality is that many just want to continue getting away with paying substandard wages. All the while British workers lose out.

The sooner we quit the EU and develop an immigration policy that protects British workers the better.