Gove: farm labour a priority

MICHAEL GOVE has hinted that agricultural workers could be given special treatment in the post-brexit immigration system so farmers can “access the labour we need”.

The Environment Secretary compared the need for fruit pickers to the need for skilled doctors and nurses after key NHS workers were exempted from the Government’s visa cap. On a visit to Hereford and Worcester, Mr Gove told the BBC: “We all know that we need workers from abroad, particularly in agriculture, because we are fortunate at the moment to have so many people within the UK who are in employment. We are committed to making sure farmers, like everyone else, can get the workers they need.

“We always look at every sector and ask, ‘What do we need to do to make sure these services run effectively?’.”