Just putting together the morning news round-up and I noticed this in the Daily Express
SCANDAL OF IMMIGRANTS TAKING OVER OUR IT JOBS
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/130665/Scandal-of-immigrants-taking-over-our-IT-jobs
Ignoring for the minute the predictable and somewhat shameful 'British jobs for British people' sentiment, one phrase really caught my eye:
'It follows complaints that migrant workers are also taking jobs in other areas such as in agriculture.'
While middle England splutters with fury into its cornflakes this morning, blaming 'them from abroad' for the fact they are sat it their boxershorts all day watching Jeremy Kyle and re-runs of Top Gear on Dave, they fail to realise that for agriculture at least migrant workers are essential.
The Express story suggests migrants are taking jobs in farming which otherwise, Brits would have filled.
That surely is not true.
Agriculture has struggled for years to attract British workers and has relied heavily on seasonal migrant labour.
In fact when immigration laws were tghtened earlier this year the farming industry warned it would struggle to harvest crops as there would not be enough staff.
Even in recessionary times, we Brits are a choosy workforce.
Try convincing someone who has lived in a town, on unemployment benefits for the last few years to leave that to go and work on a farm - many would turn you down.
It's as much about perception as anything, but farmers will know it is not a matter of getting cheaper labour but more often than not the domestic workforce is not willing to get its hands dirty.
So perhaps someone should tell Express readers the simple fact that without migrant labour, there may be no food on their table, they may be forced to bring food (along with the workforce) in from abroad.
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On a separate note, hats off to The Sun today for this pun-filled story about a tractor driver who became trapped under a low bridge.
'A right bales up' - genius. well done sirs.
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