More foreign workers needed to tackle food prices, industry chiefs tell No 10

Could take ‘decades’ to shift away from reliance on overseas staff, say food sector leaders attending Downing Street summit

It is not possible to replace foreign workers in agriculture and other industries with UK labourers, food sector groups have warned after Suella Braverman called for “less dependency” on foreign labour.

The home secretary told a right-wing conference Britain “mustn’t forget how to do things for ourselves” and there is “no good reason” why the UK can’t train enough butchers and fruit pickers.

But industry leaders said more overseas staff are needed to meet shortages and help tackle soaring food prices, as farming chiefs and supermarket bosses gather for a summit at No 10 on Tuesday.