Brexit-backing curry industry says it feels ‘betrayed’ by Theresa May’s immigration clampdown

The number of licensed curry restaurants has declined by 13 per cent, with over 1,000 restaurants closing their doors for good in the last 18 months

Zlata Rodionova
Friday 04 November 2016 16:39 GMT
Comments
The industry was hoping that a new Australian ‘points-style’ immigration system would allow them to hire more staff from abroad
The industry was hoping that a new Australian ‘points-style’ immigration system would allow them to hire more staff from abroad

Britain’s £4bn curry industry, which campaigned for the UK to leave EU, says it has been betrayed by politicians over immigration, in the wake of the Brexit vote.

Curry house owners are worried about the post-referendum clampdown on immigration, as they are already struggling to hire chefs from abroad and are facing mass closures.

According to a recent survey, the number of licensed curry restaurants has declined by 13 per cent in the last 18 months, with over 1,000 restaurants closing their doors for good.

The current regime requires curry house owners to pay nearly £30,000 a year to secure a visa for a chef from the subcontinent. Visa applications are often refused and the staff shortages are the main reason why restaurants are closing.

Oli Khan, chef and owner of three curry houses, said the industry is suffering a lot and feels betrayed.

He told The Independent: “It is very disappointing that Brexit campaigners such as Priti Patel and Boris Johnson, who said the curry industry would be better off the EU, have not kept their promises.”

Amber Rudd launches immigration crackdown

Khan added he had to double the wages of some of his employee due to staff shortages and, pointing to the collapse in the value of the pound since the June referendum, he is expecting higher food prices.

Priti Patel, International Development Secretary, who was a leading Leave campaigner, said a Brexit vote would allow the curry industry to relax non-EU immigration rules and “save” British curry houses.

The industry was hoping that a new Australian “points-style” immigration system would allow them to hire more staff from countries such as India and Bangladesh.

However, one of Theresa May’s first announcements after becoming Prime Minister was to rule out such a system, which she thinks could increase immigration levels.

In addition, Home Seceratary Amber Rudd has pledged to bring down the overall number of migrants.

Enam Ali MBE, founder, restaurateur and editor of trade publication Spice Business, has been lobbying the Government to implement a major review as current legislation continues to impact the industry.

“Staff shortages mean many of us are struggling to meet customer expectations, and it is almost impossible to expand as we would like to,” he said.

Earlier this week, Pasha Khandaker, president of the Bangladesh Caterers Association, who campaigned for Brexit, told the Financial Times he was “very disappointed” by the Government’s refusal to implement a points-based immigration system.

“I am very disappointed, when Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Priti Patel, prominent figures from the governing party, they were clearly saying that they would introduce a points-based system of immigraiton, Australia-style,” he said.

“My organisation supported Brexit for several reasons but the main reason was to bring people from abroad to help our industry to survive.”

Chris Parsons, chair of the India practice at law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, said that it would be “politically rather difficult for Theresa May and the rest of the Government to say we’re closing European immigration down but we want to encourage lots of Chinese and Indians to come in.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in