Britain should get off its “immigration dependency” and do more to train British workers, Keir Starmer declared today.
Labour ’s leader told business chiefs “the days when low pay and cheap labour are part of the British way on growth must end.”
The party chief today said he would be “pragmatic” as “migration is part of our national story”.
But it is understood this “pragmatism” is a reference to specific cases like the HGV driver shortage.
He has not outright said he would relax the Tory government’s points-based system more widely.
Likewise he refused to commit to "arbitrary" numbers on bringing down immigration.
He told the CBI conference in Birmingham: “Any movement in our point-based migration system, whether via the skilled occupation route, or the shortage worker list, will come with new conditions for business.
“We will expect you to bring forward a clear plan for higher skills and more training, for better pay and conditions, for investment in new technology.
“But our common goal must be to help the British economy off its immigration dependency.
“To start investing more in training up workers who are already here.”
The speech is likely to anger those on the left who call for more relaxed immigration rules, and say Keir Starmer's stance has shifted. In January 2020 he said he would “bring back, argue for, challenge” free movement within the EU.
It comes as part of a pitch to woo businesses as polls suggest the party could enter government in 2024.
Keir Starmer hosted bosses from firms including arms giant BAE Systems in his Commons office suite last night, alongside MPs who watched Wales’ World Cup match in the corner.
Labour’s leader said he wanted a “new partnership” with business, with his office deliberately pointing out the differences between him and Jeremy Corbyn.
Labour said it would ensure all employers able to sponsor visas are meeting decent standards of pay and conditions.
Visa delays would be sped up, training and pay improvement would be needed for roles that need foreign recruitment, and the Migration Advisory Committee that reports skills shortages would be reformed.
He added: “When we look at our economy as a whole, it can seem like we’re more comfortable hiring people to work in low paid, insecure, sometimes exploitative contracts than we are investing in the new technology that delivers for workers, productivity and our country.
“And we can’t compete like that. Britain’s low pay model has to go. It doesn’t serve working people. It’s not compatible with grassroots growth.”
Setting out his plan, Keir Starmer said a "new business model" was needed as "trickle-down" economics had been "tested to destruction". He added: "Nothing reeks of decline more than the idea Britain no longer knows how to build things. I don’t accept that."
At one point he held up a printout of the Tories’ Industrial Strategy at the CBI.
He told business leaders to some laughter: “Scratched across the top is one word - I kid you not, ‘archived’. ‘Archived’.
"Doesn’t that just tell you everything? The government has archived Britain’s growth.”
Mr Starmer said it can seem British firms are "more comfortable" hiring people in "exploitative" low-wage contracts than investing in training in the UK.
The former Director of Public Prosecutions, now 60, joked: “Let me tell you from personal experience, there’s nothing wrong with changing your career in your mid-50s.”
It comes as Rishi Sunak moved to deny plans ministers could look to realign Britain with EU laws.
Some Tories have been angered by suggestions the Government was weighing up a Swiss-style relationship with Brussels.
But the Prime Minister told the CBI conference on Monday that the UK "will not pursue any relationship with Europe that relies on alignment with EU laws".
Labour said it was sticking to its opposition to rejoining the EU’s single market and would keep a points-based immigration system.
