Official figures show Rishi Sunak is pinning his hopes on migrant workers to plug 212,000 unfilled posts in health and social care.
But the PM does not want to shout about it for fear of inflaming public opinion and antagonising his anti-immigration Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
Office for Budget Responsibility stats released with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ’s Autumn Statement last week revealednet migration will rise from a March estimate of 129,000 in 2026 to 205,000.