Skills ‘boot camps’ to be offered – as minister says UK has relied on foreign workers ‘for too long’
The government is set to offer “skills boot camps” in an attempt to get people on benefits back into work and to fill job roles previously held by foreign workers.
In a speech on Tuesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride will promise job training for sectors experiencing shortages, such as social care, hospitality and construction, saying the UK has relied on foreign workers for “too long” and he is “determined to put that right”.
The announcement will come ahead of fresh net migration statistics due to be published on Thursday, showing how many people came to and left the UK in 2023.
The last time the statistics were published, the figure hit a record high of 745,000 in 2022 – leading to a backlash by MPs on the right of the Conservative Party who want to see the number lowered.
The government has announced a raft of new measures since to try to curb legal migration, including stopping students from bringing their dependents and increasing the salary someone has to earn to qualify for a visa.
But some in cabinet have raised concerns about the impact on UK university coffers, as well as on the workforce, with certain businesses unable to get the staff they need.
In his speech, Mr Stride will say he understands cutting the numbers will present a “recruitment challenge”, but he believes the government can build “a new economic model based on British talent”.
He will confirm a new cross-government ministerial taskforce has been set up to “develop recruitment initiatives” to get people into work – similar to the efforts made in 2021 to recruit more HGV drivers – and the move will come with the added benefit of “cutting the benefits bill”.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride will promise to work with businesses to help them “overcome recruitment challenges”.
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The minister will add: “This is also a huge opportunity for the thousands of jobseekers within our domestic workforce to move into roles that have previously been filled by overseas workers.
“So my message to businesses is clear: our jobcentre teams stand ready to help you find the right candidate, and we want to work with you to overcome recruitment challenges.
“And my message is also to the British people. For too long we have relied on labour from abroad when there is great talent right here in the UK – I am determined to put that right.”
The plan got short shrift from Labour, with its acting shadow work and pensions secretary Alison McGovern saying: “After 14 years of Tory failure, Mel Stride cannot escape the Tory record on work.”
She added: “The Conservatives have run down our skills and training system. And we now have record levels of net migration.
“They should be putting in place proper plans to tackle worker shortages and adopting Labour’s plans to connect the immigration system to skills, not setting up another talking shop.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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