Letters: Workers can stand up to Labour’s racist visa plans

Health and care workers protest Labour’s racism outside parliament (Photo: Guy Smallman)

The crisis in social care is nothing new.

The introduction of a wait of ten to 15 years for indefinite leave to remain for migrant carers, who are deemed to be low skilled, will exacerbate the crisis.

Migrant workers are critical to the British adult social care sector, making up roughly 32 percent of care workers. Due to recent immigration policy changes, international recruitment has plummeted.

These restrictions are part of the government’s racist agenda to compete with Reform UK.

And they threaten to worsen existing worker shortages, which stood at 131,000 vacancies in 2024. The sector is facing a precarious situation where the loss of international workers is unlikely to be matched by domestic recruitment.

The government plans to train up the workforce. This has resulted in employers passing on the cost to clients and employees who have not received a pay rise.

People are resorting to dipping into their pensions and there is no sick pay. Carers are surviving, not living.

All of this reflects the undervaluing of the profession.

As Unison union activists in the fair visa/fair pay campaign, we met with our local MP to challenge her on the scale of the crisis.

We aimed to pressure her to sign a public letter opposing the visa changes to present to Shabana Mahmood, who is instigating them.

We represented 186 local members of Unison who are care workers.

In the end, she promised to considered signing the letter.

It is vitally important that trade unionists take up the fight against attacks on migrant workers.

We need to mobilise MPs to oppose the proposals, but also to bring the issue to the attention of the wider community.

Stella Ouriache, east London

Dumfries beats back

For the last two years anti-immigration protesters who have gathered in Dumfries town centre have stressed that they are not racist or far-right.

Violent thug Danny Tommo harassed asylum seekers currently accommodated at a hotel in the town.

He is a close associate of Tommy Robinson and has a conviction for attempted abduction at knifepoint.

Then, a large gathering assembled outside the hotel on the pretence of a resident having indecent images on his phone.

The resident was arrested and later released without charge.

Despite this, calls to harass residents continued.

On Saturday 8 February, a delegation from anti‑deportation campaign The Depot and Dumfries Solidarity visited the hotel with fruit and dates.

We wanted to reassure them that racist gatherings are not representative of the majority of Doonhamers.

We received a heartwarming message from the residents—“The world is grateful for your beautiful activities.”

Dumfries Solidarity are planning a series of counter-measures to beat back the racists.

Stephen McLean, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway

Right wing politics is leaving men lonely

A recent article in the Guardian newspaper found that young Gen Z men are “twice as likely as baby boomers to believe wives should obey husbands”.

How and why this is happening is debatable. However, there are a few elements.

Gen Z men find themselves in a confusing landscape—the internet pushes right wing ideas, hyper-masculinity and anger at women.

At the same time, we see falling birth rates and young women preferring to stay single.

Young men are pushed to be a breadwinner, yet they are stuck in boring and low-paying jobs.

This anger is taken out on women.

The contradictory thing about this is that the article cited how Gen Z men want women with their own careers.

So, the expectation is that women should handle the burden of the household whilst also maintaining their careers so that they are attractive to men.

No wonder women are preferring a single lifestyle.

Lizzie, Portsmouth

Stand with Abu-Sittah

Dr Ghassan Abu‑Sittah, the University of Glasgow’s rector, was cleared of accusations of antisemitism last week.

The baseless claims are part of a witch hunt.

Working as a surgeon in Gaza, he witnessed Israel’s crimes—that’s why they’re eager to smear him.

UK Lawyers for Israel and the General Medical Council have complained about the result.

With renewed accusations, it’s more important than ever to support those standing for an end to genocide.

Lorcan Adams, Glasgow