Outrageous" social care exclusion from Govt's new Health and Care Visa
The Government's decision to exclude social care workers from the new Health and Care Visa and the entire "skilled worker" route under the new points-based system, has been greeted with derision.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine said:
"It is utterly outrageous that Boris Johnson's Government has pretended to prioritise social care during the COVID-19 crisis, only to announce that these vital key workers will be excluded from the so-called "Health and Care Visa".
"Without our social care workers, the most vulnerable in our society would suffer immeasurably. And yet their work is not deemed of sufficient value to this callous Conservative Government. This is a deeply short-sighted move that risks stretching the sector to breaking point, with 120,000 vacancies to fill.
"Priti Patel might consider social care workers to be unskilled, but the coronavirus pandemic reminds us they are anything but. The Liberal Democrats will oppose these destructive policies and continue our fight for a fair, effective immigration system that works for our economy and society, and treats everyone with dignity and respect."