Burnham Backs Giving Jobs to Illegal Migrants While British Youth Face Unemployment Crisis

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has signalled support for allowing asylum seekers to work, even as Britain faces a youth unemployment crisis with over a million young people not in education, employment, or training.

Labour’s Stance on Migrant Labour

Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor for Greater Manchester, has indicated his backing for giving asylum seekers the right to work. While acknowledging concerns over small-boat crossings, Mr Burnham told The Guardian that too many people are currently left “in limbo” and stressed the importance of “safe routes” to the UK for refugees.

This position comes as the Office for National Statistics reported that 1.01 million young people aged 16 to 24 were not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) between January and March. A review by former health secretary Alan Milburn estimated this number could rise to 1.25 million by 2031.

Opposition Slams “Boneheaded Proposal”

Opposition politicians have been quick to condemn Mr Burnham’s comments, labelling his approach “soft and weak”. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told MailOnline that “Andy Burnham is clearly an open borders fanatic,” warning that allowing asylum seekers to work would make the UK “even more of a magnet” for illegal immigration.

Mr Philp questioned the purpose of work visas if “illegal immigrants can just circumvent them,” arguing that “we should be deporting illegal immigrants, not letting them work.” He concluded that Burnham is “just as soft and weak as [Keir] Starmer.”

Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, described the proposal as “boneheaded,” stating it would create “yet another massive incentive for people to come here illegally.” He added that under a Reform government, such individuals would be “detained and deported immediately… with no right to claim asylum.”

• Andy Burnham supports allowing asylum seekers to work.
• Over one million British youths are currently unemployed or not in training.
• Chris Philp called Burnham an “open borders fanatic.”
• Reform UK labelled the proposal a “massive incentive” for illegal immigration.
• Labour’s Keir Starmer has called the youth unemployment figures “sobering.”
• Green Party leader Ellie Chowns supports the right to claim asylum and allowing asylum seekers to work.

What This Means for Britain

This proposal by Andy Burnham suggests a shift towards allowing asylum seekers to enter the UK workforce, potentially increasing competition for jobs at a time when over a million young Britons are struggling to find employment or training.

For ordinary working families, this could mean fewer opportunities for their children and a further strain on public services if more people are encouraged to enter the country without proper controls or sufficient infrastructure.

The Labour government, led by Sir Keir Starmer, faces pressure to address the soaring youth unemployment figures, which a report by Alan Milburn warned could worsen significantly by 2031.

Allowing asylum seekers to work without first securing the border could undermine the principle of controlled immigration and the integrity of the work visa system, making Britain an even greater draw for those seeking to enter illegally.

This policy debate highlights a fundamental difference in approach between Labour’s more open border stance and the public’s desire for tighter controls and prioritisation of British workers.

Share if you believe British workers should be prioritised in Britain.

This article is a factual summary of reporting by GB News and MailOnline. Full original story available on their websites. All quotes directly attributed.

Source: GB News | Breaking Brexit News