Alamy
FEATURE Labour in the countryside/Migrant workers
“My family is Jewish and had to flee before the Second World War broke out. Just like then, when Jewish people were demonised and dehumanised, the same thing is happening now to migrants. It’s shameful that just days after Liberation Day, Keir Starmer is giving speeches like that. The language he used is unacceptable. My fear is I’ll have to leave the UK, because it could become unliveable in if you’re not English.”
Monique Mosley
In fact, these workers are among those holding this economy together and yet we are not giving them the certainty and the stability they deserve. Why are we alienating people who have contributed so much to this country?”
For Monique, what concerned her most was the language Keir Starmer used in his speech unveiling Labour’s immigration plans. In his speech, Starmer said that without tougher immigration rules, the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers”. Critics said this rhetoric mirrored Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 ‘rivers of blood’ speech, which was denounced even at the time as racist, xenophobic and inflammatory.
“I’m very worried about the rise of the far right and how politicians pander to them,” Monique explained. “I’ve never claimed any benefits, I’ve always worked, I’ve always paid my taxes and now I’m seen as the font of all evil.”
Monique sees many parallels between now and the Second World War.
Like Iulian, Monique believes that Labour’s immigration plans are above all impractical. She believes the push to make companies recruit British-born workers in many sectors like hers is unworkable.
Monique reports that two years ago, Greencore held a big recruitment drive, but the company struggled to recruit local people.
Monique went on to note the government's immigration policy should focus on supporting immigrants more.
At present, the near total lack of support and training migrant workers receive from the government or other authorities means many don’t speak English and don’t have access to learning it. This leaves them with no choice but to stay within their communities.
“If you don’t know the language, you won’t know, for example, what your rights are,” Monique explained. “You’re more vulnerable to being exploited.”
Education should be at the centre of immigration policy, not just of migrants, but of British-born people too, Monique adds.
“People need to be taught from as early as school about the realities and the benefits of migration,” she said.
“Maybe if it were embedded in the curriculum, people would be more welcoming of migrants.”
Meanwhile, Iulian adds that unions could play a vital role in supporting the government, if only government truly embraced unions as partners. Unions could, for example, access workplaces to ensure migrant workers aren’t being exploited, Iulian explained.
For Monique, she urges people to understand the vital roles that migrant workers play in the UK.
“Most people just don’t realise that migrant workers are the backbone of our everyday lives – they may be in low-paid roles, but these jobs are vital. From nurses in the NHS to care workers to toilet cleaners in airports, to dishwashers in restaurants, to workers on the line at a meat processing plant. They’re so important, but they’re invisible. That’s got to change.”
‘‘ 22 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2025
Most people just don’t realise that migrant workers are the backbone of our everyday lives – they may be in low-paid roles, but these jobs are vital... They’re so important, but they’re invisible. That’s got to change
Monique Mosley, Unite rep, Greencore
‘‘
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