Gordon Ramsay's 'lazy Britain' remark resonates with farmers' lack of labour fears

"That level of influx of multinational workers in this country has sort of confirmed how lazy as a nation we are", Ramsay said
"That level of influx of multinational workers in this country has sort of confirmed how lazy as a nation we are", Ramsay said

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has called British people lazy – saying that an influx of foreign workers in the country proves it.

He said Brexit will shake Britain out of this laziness, and believes an end to the “influx” of migrants will give homegrown talent a chance to shine.

He told Radio Times magazine: “That level of influx of multinational workers in this country has sort of confirmed how lazy as a nation we are – when individuals from across the seas are prepared to come and work twice as hard for less money.

“If anything, it’s a big kick up the ass for the industry, and it’s going to get back to the modern-day apprenticeship.

“So not only do I welcome that kind of change, but I think it’s going to put a lot more emphasis on homegrown talent, which I think we need to do.”

The comments may well resonate with farmers and their fears. It comes at a time when the agricultural industry ponders over what a post-Brexit Britain may look like without access to the EU's migrant pool.

'Get on their bikes'

Some politicians and leading farming figures have sided with Ramsay's viewpoint, and have called Brits to do more work on the fields.

A Conservative MP has said young Brits should "get on their bikes" and take farming jobs to alleviate the shortage of migrant labour post-Brexit.

South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, who backed the Leave campaign in the referendum of last year, told a fringe event at the Conservative party conference that British people need to fill roles vacated by EU workers after Brexit.

"I was struggling to think why wouldn't a youngster from Glasgow without a job come down to the south to work for a farm for the summer with loads of gorgeous EU women working there?" Mr Mackinlay said on Monday (2 October)," Mr Mackinlay said.

"What's not to like? Get on your bike and find a job."

'Rite of passage'

This is not the first time a major party has called for British people to fill farm jobs.

Ukip has said British students could provide labour for fresh produce industry to help cut migration.

The party's immigration minister John Bickley said the UK must "use up the human capital that exists in this country" before opening its borders.

He stated that reforms to the welfare and education system are needed to increase the number of home-grown workers available to the agriculture sector.

Mr Bickley said fruit picking was previously a “rite of passage” to earn extra cash for people about to go to university or at university.

However, according to recent surveys which have gathered public opinion on the subject of farm work, the situation doesn't look healthy.

'Cannot be relied upon'

For example, in the dairy industry, only 4 per cent of UK adults would consider all key aspects of working on dairy farms personally acceptable, according to a survey commissioned by Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF).

Mike King, chairman of RABDF, says the survey not only throws light on an image problem with dairy farming, but suggests the domestic workforce cannot currently be relied upon to plug labour shortages.

He explained: “EU workers currently fill a large number of roles in dairy farming, which are varied and largely permanent. But post-Brexit, we could see access to that labour disappear.

“The survey indicates many UK workers simply don’t like the thought of some of the features of dairy farming, like the need for flexible hours or working outside.

“The least popular task is working with machinery – only 17% of all UK adults would consider it acceptable if they were applying for a job now. Just 27% will consider a job involving animals, and working in a rural location is deemed acceptable by only 36%.

Mr King explained: “This, coupled with the tail-off in interest when people realise the role is in dairy farming, shows we need to take a long term look at the image we portray but also secure access to the labour we need in the short term.”