UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ex-home secretary David Blunkett backs “work and teach” visa, where skilled migrants mentor UK workers, aiming to ease public concern over immigration.
As reported by The Guardian, former education secretary David Blunkett supports calls for migrants to train British workers to improve public attitudes toward immigration.
A report from the Labour-linked thinktank Good Growth Foundation suggests a new visa route where skilled migrants spend part of their time mentoring and training British workers.
What did David Blunkett say about linking immigration to skills training?
David Blunkett called the proposal linking immigration and worker skills training a “serious, pragmatic plan” to enhance opportunities for British workers.
Referring to the plan, he said,
“A serious, pragmatic plan to ‘take back control’ in the truest sense – not through slogans or scapegoating, but by giving people real power over their own lives and the confidence of aspiration once again.”
Mr Blunkett added,
“The public’s unease about immigration cannot be separated from their frustration about opportunity. When people feel locked out of progress, resentment grows; when they see investment in skills and prospects, confidence returns.”
What did the survey show about public support for a “work and teach” visa?
The survey revealed the “work and teach” visa proposal eased public worries over immigration by 18 points and total concern by 12.
When asked about immigration’s impact on UK jobs in 2029, 40% of voters said they are highly concerned, 27% expressed moderate concern, and 25% said they were little or not concerned.
The poll found that when asked about a “work and teach” visa requiring migrants to train British staff, only 22% of voters said they were highly concerned. A further third of voters, 33%, said they were somewhat concerned, while 35% said they were not very or not at all concerned.
According to the briefing, the programme would focus on sectors facing labour shortages, with skilled migrants mentoring and training UK workers.
Ministers have received the proposal in a report on skills and immigration ahead of the November budget.
In his foreword to the report, David Blunkett described skills policy as “not an add-on” but as “the foundation of a fair, confident, and productive country.”
What did Praful Nargund say about linking immigration and skills?
Praful Nargund, the director of the Good Growth Foundation, stated,
“You can’t out-Farage Farage. We need a progressive vision on immigration which welcomes contribution and commitment to our country while opening up opportunity here in Britain too.”
He added,
“Linking immigration and skills reform flips the narrative from pressures to partnership, giving new arrivals and British workers the chance to work together to fix our country.”
What did Chris Curtis say about linking immigration and skills reform?
Chris Curtis MP, head of the Labour Growth Group, said,
“This is migration policy that actually solves problems in our economy rather than just managing decline. We desperately need skills for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure.”
He stated,
“This proposal helps us plug those gaps urgently while building our own workforce so the British people can see immigration working in the national interest rather than at their expense.”
Mr Curtis added,
“The data shows concern about immigration dropping sharply when voters see this contributory model. That’s because people recognise fairness when they see it.”
What did Shabana Mahmood say about the new immigration rules?
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood outlines plans for immigrants to prove their contribution to society to earn the right to stay in the UK.
In her Labour conference speech in Liverpool, Mahmood said migrants would face new criteria for indefinite leave to remain, including high-level English, a clean criminal record, and local volunteering.
She became Home Secretary in the recent cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The skills brief was moved from Education to Work and Pensions under Pat McFadden, in a move aimed at prioritising skills policy.
How many irregular migrants arrived in the UK in 2025?
In the year ending June 2025, 49,000 irregular arrivals were detected, with 88% (43,000) arriving via small boats across the English Channel.
Afghan, Iranian, Syrian, Eritrean, and Sudanese nationals were the most common, with Afghans and Eritreans leading small boat arrivals.
Since 2018, 94% of small boat arrivals applied for asylum. The overall grant rate was 68%, varying by nationality, highest for Syrians, Eritreans, and Sudanese.