Britain is undermining the care workers it depends on | Heather Stewart

Labour’s immigration plans tear up the promise made to 300,000 people recruited for a sector in crisis

“We are deflated, we are sad. We feel the government is trying to pull the rug from under our feet,” says David. “It is like we are being criticised for working in a sector which the government called for us to come help with.”

David – not his real name – is a care worker for adults with learning disabilities. He came to the east of England from Nigeria in 2022 with his wife as the Conservative government turned to migration to tackle the social care recruitment crisis.