Conservative MP Calls for Automation to Reduce Reliance on Migrant Workers
Conservative MP Chris Philp has called for increased investment in technology to reduce the UK's reliance on low-paid migrant workers. He believes that automation can boost efficiency and lower net migration figures.
Philp highlighted the example of other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, which utilize robotic fruit and vegetable picking equipment. He also noted that South Korea uses nine times the number of robots in manufacturing compared to the UK.
"In America, they use a lot more modular construction, which is much faster and much more efficient," Philp added. "There's a lot British industry can do to grow without needing to import large numbers of low-wage migrants."
Conservatives Acknowledge Past Shortcomings on Immigration Policy
At a recent press conference, senior Conservative figures acknowledged past shortcomings on immigration policy. Kemi Badenoch, a leading Conservative MP, promised a review of "every policy, treaty and part of our legal framework," including the role of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act.
While Badenoch committed to a "strict numerical cap" on migration, she did not commit to restoring the Rwanda scheme that was previously scrapped. Philp, however, called for the scheme to be reinstated, stating that it had been "cancelled before it even started."
Conservatives to Examine Migrants' Eligibility for Benefits
Philp declined to specify a figure for the proposed migration cap but suggested that net migration figures of 350,000 would be "much too high." He stressed the importance of determining "exactly how many high-skilled, high-wage people we need," and addressing concerns over degree courses being used "as a sort of parallel migration system."
He added that the Conservative Party would examine migrants' eligibility for benefits among other measures to reduce net migration.