Labour MP Mike Tapp has declared that the Government aims to create "British jobs for British workers" during an appearance on GB News.
The MP criticised the previous Conservative administration for its handling of immigration, stating: "We have inherited a really difficult situation with immigration with net migration figures at almost a million and open borders down in my constituency."
Tapp emphasised the importance of matching the jobs market with incoming workers.
He highlighted what he described as "massive failures" under the Conservative government, which he said led to Britain having to import low-paid workers for essential roles in the NHS and care sector.
Mike Tapp assured Labour are wanting to secure 'British jobs for British workers'
GB News
"The Conservatives have made a lot of noise around this already, but they did have 14 years to get to grips with this. We've had eight months," Tapp said.
Tapp outlined Labour's strategy to address these issues, saying: "It starts with education and skills training, apprenticeships, and we've got policy coming through on all of those things."
He specifically mentioned Health Secretary Wes Streeting's efforts in the healthcare sector.
"What Wes is doing already is sweeping away some of the barriers to ensure that we can fix the NHS, train up British nurses to fill these jobs so we're not over reliant on foreign workforces," he said.
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In addition to the cost of foreign benefit claims, a further £5.4bn goes towards accommodating and supporting a backlog of over 100,000 migrantsPAHe pointed to the current situation where "new nurses are only earning £25,000" as part of the problem that needs addressing.
"Having to recruit outside of this country is a failure of the state," Tapp stated.
The MP stressed that Labour's focus would be on ensuring British workers are equipped for available jobs. Tapp revealed that a white paper on the jobs market is due to be published "early this year".
"We have got a white paper coming out early this year, which will look at the jobs market, look at the sectors that are failing, look at those who are having to recruit outside workforces," he said.
Tapp told GB News that Labour is 'working hard to ensure that we match the jobs market with the immigration market'
GB News
He reiterated that the solution begins with education and skills development.
"The way you deal with that is starting at the beginning with education, apprenticeships and skills, to ensure that British workers get those British jobs, because that we come first."
The MP expressed confidence in Labour's ability to address these problems: "We're going to get on top of it," he stated, referring to the government's recent announcement on welfare reform.
Tapp concluded by emphasising the Government's commitment to addressing both immigration and employment.
"We're eight months in. We're working hard to ensure that we match the jobs market with the immigration market, so that we can bring down."
