'The era of cheap foreign labour is over... and British workers' wages will rise'

NIGEL Farage declared yesterday the “era of cheap foreign labour is over” as he vowed his deportation plans will lead to higher wages for British workers.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

The Reform UK leader said “mass, unskilled migration” during the Boris Johnson era has suppressed earnings for millions.

Unveiling plans to reverse record numbers of arrivals and avoid a “fiscal disaster”, Mr Farage promised to abolish indefinite leave to remain and ban foreign nationals from claiming any form of welfare.

Those with settlement rights would have them rescinded if Mr Farage wins the next election. Estimates suggest this could save taxpayers around £200billion.

The Reform leader, whose party is riding high in the polls, said: “Far too many that have come don’t work, have never worked and never will work.

“You start to get a massive benefits bill. We are not the world’s food bank.

“The 800,000 people that will get indefinite leave to remain unless this policy is revoked tend to be young, they tend to be low-skilled. They are going to be a huge burden on the state. We are the party that will make massive cuts to welfare spending. Under a Reform government, welfare will be for UK citizens. It will not be for foreign-born citizens.”

Research by the Centre for Policy Studies revealed more than two million visas were issued to migrants between January 2021 and June 2024.