Pragmatism is required from ministers as lack of workers looks likely to continue well into 2022
Weeks of warnings from retailers about empty shelves, and appeals for visa rules to be relaxed temporarily for HGV drivers, fell on deaf ears in government. Are fuel shortages on BP forecourts the point at which ministers are forced to rethink?
There’s no sign of wavering in Westminster so far, but the political stakes are rising. We’ve already heard from the Brexit-supporting boss of Next, Simon Wolfson, that it is “insane” for the Home Office to prevent people coming to this country to work as drivers when their skills are “desperately” needed. John Allan, the chairman of Tesco, argued similarly this week, saying visa relaxation would be “a thoroughly sensible thing to do for the next six, 12, 18 months”.
