Can we build it? No – because Britain may not have enough workers

Construction work at the Old Oak Common HS2 site in London. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images

Even a nonexistent Heathrow third runway or HS2 northern leg have arguably done their bit for the economy: keeping a small army of planners, lawyers and lobbyists busy over years of tussle between the “builders and the blockers”, as Rachel Reeves has styled them.

Now the blockers are, as the chancellor made clear in laying out her vision for turbocharged infrastructure growth, as welcome as rare bats or newts at a construction site. But are the builders ready to take their turn?