Call to arms for our invaluable workers

HE late Princess Diana once summed up a very important but under-rated sentiment when she noted during a speech: “Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back.”

It was that principle which was at the heart of the Government’s letter to almost a million people in this country with heavy goods vehicle licences.

The letter rightly praised them for the contribution they make to this country and stressed the need for them to get behind the steering wheel now to help ensure supplies run smoothly.

It also promised that the Government would work with employers to improve pay and conditions – which have not been up to standard.

For too long, as a result of this country’s membership of the EU, lorry drivers and the needs of other manual labourers have been ignored.

Their pay was suppressed by bringing in cheap labour from abroad and no effort was made to provide decent stop-off points for them to rest, have clean toilets and get refreshments.

The same could be said in many other labour sectors.

In a society where, thanks to Tony Blair, 50 per cent of school leavers were expected to go to university – whether it was the right thing for them or not – lorry drivers and other skilled labourers were sometimes under-valued.

No wonder many have given up and there has been a lack of people coming to fill gaps.

It is time that HGV drivers, poultry farm workers, plumbers and all Britain’s manual workforce should be praised and thanked, while school leavers are encouraged to take up such valuable jobs.

This needs to be one of the long-term benefits of Brexit and is a reason why so many lorry drivers and other skilled workers supported it.

Having flexibility with the visa scheme for foreign workers is important, but, as Conservative MPS have said in this paper today, we need to look at greater self-reliance, whether it is with our workforce or our energy supplies.

Raiding poorer countries for cheap labour denies them the workers they themselves need to succeed but also means that those in this country who are working hard for the benefit of us all do not get the support, pay and gratitude they deserve.