Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has sparked debate by calling former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair the “founding father of mass migration” accusing him of embedding large-scale immigration into Britain’s economic framework.
Speaking on the UK’s long-term economic challenges, Jenrick argued that successive governments have relied too heavily on foreign labour instead of investing in homegrown skills and innovation. He urged Britain to take inspiration from Donald Trump’s policies in the United States, which focus on lowering migration while boosting productivity and growth.
“Tony Blair was the founding father of mass migration,” Jenrick said. “That belief that immigration is an unqualified good became deeply rooted in the economic and political establishment. But we can see the consequences today.”
Population Growth and Economic Pressure
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK’s population could rise by more than five million within seven years, reaching 72.5 million by 2032. The report warns that migration will account for almost all of this growth, as birth and death rates remain nearly balanced.
Current figures show net migration around 431,000 per year, though it peaked at 906,000 in 2023. The ONS predicts it will stabilise at about 340,000 annually from 2028, but even that would continue adding significant pressure on the NHS, housing, schools, and transport systems.
“Easy Lever” of Foreign Labour
Jenrick criticised UK employers for what he described as a long-term dependence on imported labour.
“For decades, many companies have reached for the easy lever of foreign labour rather than training British workers,” he said. “That’s why we have some of the lowest productivity and automation levels in the developed world.”
He claimed that by reducing low-skilled migration, the UK could encourage investment in innovation, technology, and wages driving what he called a “renaissance in our economy.”
Trump’s Model: Low Migration, High Growth
In contrast, Donald Trump’s administration has focused on tightening immigration rules and raising the cost of work visas like the H-1B, which now carries a $100,000 fee. The policy aims to encourage companies to prioritise American workers while still allowing select entry for highly skilled professionals.
Jenrick suggested that Britain should adopt a similar model limiting low-wage migration while attracting the world’s best talent in areas like tech, medicine, and entrepreneurship.
“We should aim to become the grammar school of the Western world a place that attracts coders, entrepreneurs, and top doctors, but not low-wage, low-skill migration,” he said.
Comments
Post a Comment