Boris Johnson tells UK haulage industry not to rely on foreign drivers

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has issued a fresh warning to the road haulage industry that it cannot expect to rely on cheap immigrant labour in future.

Speaking on the eve of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Johnson said he wanted to end the UK's reliance on low-wage foreign workers and for it to become “a well-paid, well-skilled, highly productive economy.”

His comments came after the government announced it was extending 5,000 temporary visas being offered to foreign truck drivers amid warnings of shortages on the shelves in the run-up to Christmas.

They include 300 bespoke visas for tanker drivers who will be able to come into the UK “immediately” amid claims the fuel crisis is getting worse in some parts of the country.

Speaking during a visit to Leeds General Infirmary, Mr Johnson said the situation on forecourts was “stabilising” after days of petrol station stations running dry due to panic buying.

He said some 200 troops, including 100 military drivers, were being deployed from Monday to support the supply effort as it was important to take “all possible precautions.”