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Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week confirmed government support for dozens of big projects to boost growth, on top of Labour’s existing promise to build 1.5 million new homes.

Major planning system reforms are under way in a bid to meet targets, but among the challenges the government faces in delivery is who will build them.

Construction bosses warn of a chronic worker shortage. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimates at least 50,000 extra workers are needed annually to meet current demand.

But analysis for Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips now shows the UK’s population growth is far outpacing the size of its construction workforce.

Despite growing by 2.5 million people since 2019, the UK has lost 320,000 construction workers. There are now just 29 workers per 1,000 people, the lowest on record.

Population building

To address the shortage, construction has increasingly turned to overseas.

Analysis of the Office for National Statistics’ Annual Population Survey (APS) shows that in 2007, one in 12 construction or civil engineering workers was foreign-born. By 2016, this had risen to one in seven.

The APS stopped recording occupation by country of birth in 2022, so we don’t fully know the current picture.

Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government tried to attract more overseas construction workers by adding roles including bricklayers and stonemasons to the Shortage Occupation List in July 2023.

Since renamed the Immigration Salary List (ISL), over a quarter of roles now on the list are in construction.

Labour says it wants to reduce net legal migration, which was an estimated 728,000 in the year to June 2024.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has commissioned a Migration Advisory Committee report, expected in June, assessing which sectors are “over-reliant” on international recruitment.

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So if the number of construction workers coming into the country is limited, home-grown apprentices might be expected to cover any shortfall.

Government figures show around 15,500 people start construction apprenticeships every year, but nearly one in two (47%) do not finish their course. The dropout rate has risen sharply, up from 30% in 2014/15.

A survey last year by the British Association of Construction Heads concluded the main reasons for dropping out included redundancies, firings, and low salaries.

It means under 9,000 people a year finish their apprenticeship, one-fifth of the CITB estimate of the annual demand.

The government has funded 32 skills hubs to offer fast-track training for 5,000 extra apprentices a year by 2028, in trades such as bricklaying and scaffolding.

On this weekend’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Trevor will be joined by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss whether the solution is more immigration or more domestic training.

Watch Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips every Sunday on Sky News from 8.30am.

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Part of Birmingham ‘can’t be no-go area for Jews’, cabinet minister tells Sky News

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Part of Birmingham 'can't be no-go area for Jews', cabinet minister tells Sky News

Aston in Birmingham can’t become a “no-go area” for Jews, a senior cabinet minister has told Sky News, amid controversy over fans of an Israeli football club being barred from attending a match next month.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said he “profoundly” disagrees with the “approach” taken by a local MP who started a petition calling for fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv to be banned from the Aston Villa game, saying it “cannot be the basis on which our country operates”.

But while he said the government is “working with the relevant authorities” to overturn the move, he can not guarantee it will happen.

Politics latest: Miliband ‘welcomes’ Jeremy Clarkson challenge

Villa Park. PA
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Villa Park. PA

Alongside politicians of all parties, Sir Keir Starmer has strongly criticised the decision, calling it “wrong”, and the government has said it will work with local authorities to ensure both sets of fans can attend.

Speaking to Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Mr Miliband said work is still ongoing.

“We are working with the relevant authorities on this issue, he said. “I think the principle here is we do not want a situation where people of a particular faith or from a particular country can’t come to a football match because of their faith, because of where they’re coming from.”

Asked if Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will definitely be able to attend the game, the minister replied: “I’m not going to say come what may, but I’m giving you a very, very clear indication of what we are working towards, which is that, you know, the fans from both teams can attend the match.”

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Miliband on Israeli football fan ban

Phillips put to Mr Miliband that a petition to ban their fans, launched by local independent MP Ayoub Khan, has been signed by nearly 4,000 people. It states the upcoming game is “not a normal match” because the Israeli fans would be arriving in “Aston, a diverse and predominantly Muslim community”.

Asked if Aston is now a no-go area for Jews, Mr Miliband replied: “No and it can’t be. And I’m very, very clear about that.

“I believe we as a country, we pride ourselves on our diversity, but also our tolerance and our hatred of prejudice, frankly. And so we cannot have a situation where any area is a no-go area for people of a particular religion or from a particular country.”

Asked if the local MP was justified in what he wrote, Mr Miliband replied: “No. I profoundly disagree with that approach, with what is being said in that petition, because that cannot be the basis on which our country operates.”

This isn’t how the vast majority of people in the UK operate, he added. “So let’s not take this petition and say it paints a picture of our country.”

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Aston Villa fan says he has received death threats.

Top Tory criticises ‘sectarian politics’

His Tory counterpart, Claire Coutinho, was highly critical of the petition, telling Phillips: “I think politicians need to have the courage to name some of the problems that this country is facing. And one of those problems is political Islam.

“Now, that’s not to say the moderate Muslim community are a problem in Britain, but we have seen in the past extremist Islamism […] and now we are seeing a movement of people – last election, five MPs elected – simply on sectarian politics. That may be higher at the next election.

“So we have to grip this, and part of that is dealing with rising antisemitism. But part of that is dealing with integration.”

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Tory calls out ‘lack of integration’

The senior Tory MP described the ban overall as a “disgrace”, saying: “I think the message that is being sent to Jewish people in this country is that they’re not welcome here.

“This has always been a safe haven for Jewish people, and I think to say that we could not possibly police Israeli Jewish fans to watch a football match safely is reinforcing that message that Jews are not welcome here. And I think that is wrong.”

Match classified as ‘high risk’

In a statement on Thursday, Aston Villa said Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) – which issues safety certificates for every match at the ground – had “formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend” the fixture at Villa Park on 6 November, as it had been classified as “high risk”.

The club said police had advised of “public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night” – a statement that triggered outrage across the political spectrum.

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Will ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa be lifted?

The move has been condemned by political and Jewish leaders, including Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, who called it a “shameful decision”.

The Jewish Leadership Council said it was “perverse” to ban away fans because police can’t guarantee their safety, adding: “Aston Villa should face the consequences of this decision and the match should be played behind closed doors.”

Read more:
Why are Maccabi Tel Aviv fans banned?
Analysis: Ban raises serious questions

Sky News has contacted Mr Khan for a response to the comments made this morning.

Former Labour leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn defended his fellow member of the Independent Alliance group in parliament yesterday, writing on X: “Ayoub Khan has been subject to disgusting smears by MPs and journalists, who have wilfully misrepresented his views in order to stoke anger and division.”

He added that he and his colleagues “diligently represent people of all faiths and none in their communities”.

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Chinese tech giants halt Hong Kong stablecoin plans amid Beijing concerns: FT

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Chinese tech giants halt Hong Kong stablecoin plans amid Beijing concerns: FT

Chinese tech giants halt Hong Kong stablecoin plans amid Beijing concerns: FT

Ant Group and JD.com have paused their stablecoin initiatives in Hong Kong after Beijing regulators raised concerns over private firms issuing digital currencies.

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Japan’s FSA weighs allowing banks to hold Bitcoin, other cryptos: Report

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Japan’s FSA weighs allowing banks to hold Bitcoin, other cryptos: Report

Japan’s FSA weighs allowing banks to hold Bitcoin, other cryptos: Report

Japan’s Financial Services Agency is weighing reforms that could let banks hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and operate licensed crypto exchanges.

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