Priti Patel’s Immigration Bill insults workers and threatens food security

The government must pay heed to the importance of these key workers and introduce routes for food workers to come in and fill vacancies, writes Richard Griffiths

Priti Patel's immigration legislation is currently working its way through parliament (AFP)

It is a travesty that the government’s proposed immigration policy demonstrates lack of "common sense", ignores Britain’s food heroes, and threatens our national interest.

The home secretary, Priti Patel’s Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination Bill yet again labels "key workers" in the food industry – and who have worked incredibly hard to keep this country running throughout the coronavirus crisis – as ‘low skilled’ and therefore disposable.

I wonder if government really cares that the food on the nation’s dinner tables under lockdown is being produced in large part by the people who their proposed policy will alienate. This Bill shows a complete disregard for British food production and may have a crippling effect on our national food security.