Labour’s ‘silver bullet’: immigrants to train Brits under proposed scheme

Visas would be linked to a commitment to spend time improving local skills, under the plan drawn up by the Good Growth Foundation, a thinktank with close links to Number 10 and the Treasury.

The programme would be part of a dynamic points-based immigration system that rewarded contribution and commitment as well as salary or qualifications.

Polling found that the “work and teach” policy reduces the number of voters who are “very concerned” about immigration by 18 points.

The proposal is contained in a report called Take Back Control, which has been circulated around the Home Office, the Treasury and Downing Street.

Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, told the Labour Party conference that migrants would have to prove they are contributing to society to earn the right to remain in the UK.

Last week she announced new rules requiring migrants to speak and understand English to A-level standard to work in Britain. All migrants seeking skilled work will have to pass a Home Office-accredited written and oral test to be granted their visa, under the new system which will take effect from January.

Praful Nargund, director of the Good Growth Foundation, said the work and teach programme “is as close to a silver bullet as it gets for this government, uniting voters across the political spectrum while turning immigration from a source of tension into a story of shared success. By demonstrating that skilled immigrants can help train and upskill British workers, we can counter the division that right-wing populists thrive on and reframe immigration as a driver of opportunity.”

The polling by the Good Growth Foundation found that 56% of voters believe immigration has reduced training opportunities for British workers and 79% want to see government action to encourage workers into shortage sectors.

David Blunkett, the former Labour home secretary, said the public’s unease about immigration could not be separated from their frustration about the lack of opportunities they have. “When people feel locked out of progress, resentment grows; when they see investment in skills and prospects, confidence returns.”

The report also concludes that a targeted reform of the Growth and Skills Levy, giving greater flexibility for businesses in the eight priority areas identified in the government’s industrial strategy, could boost the economy by £9.6 billion. By prioritising measurable, high-impact training policies, the chancellor could also enable skills reform to be formally “scored” by the Office for Budget Responsibility, unlocking fiscal headroom.

Photograph by Nicola Tree/Getty Images