James Clappison has attacked Labour for failing to control migration from outside the EU, after new figures showed the number of non-EU workers in Britain is at its highest level since 1997 compared to EU workers.
The number of foreign workers has virtually doubled under Labour, from 2 million in 1997 to 3.8 million today – and two-thirds now come from outside the EU.
In total, 13% of those working in Britain were born abroad, and 9% of our workforce comes outside the EU.
James, the Shadow Work and Pensions Minister, stressed, "This is yet more evidence that Labour have failed to bring migration from outside the EU under control despite repeated promises to do so. It would appear that the present Home Secretary has completely failed to get a grip of the situation.”
Damian Green, the Shadow Immigration Minister, added, "There cannot be anyone left in this country who believes Gordon Brown's pledge of British jobs for British workers.”
A Conservative Government would introduce an annual limit on work permits for people from outside the EU – find out more about our immigration policies.