Brexit was trending on Twitter this morning following news that Tim Martin has called for more EU migration to help tackle the shortage of bar staff working in the UK.
The Wetherspoons boss, who campaigned for Brexit and even printed pro-leave material on 1.9 million beer mats, urged prime minister Boris Johnson to introduce a “reasonably liberal immigration system” controlled by Britain rather than the European Union.
He recommended the government adopt a visa scheme for workers from the bloc to help the country’s pubs and restaurants hire more staff as they recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
It comes as roughly one in ten hospitality workers are thought to have left the sector over the past 12 months, leading to an estimated shortfall of about 188,000 workers, according to recruitment website Caterer.com.
Social media was abuzz with reaction following the Telegraph interview. Here’s what people had to say:
Brexit hypocrisy and stupidity is as infuriating as it is exhausting. A prime example right here.https://t.co/daBdR2zk96
— Siobhan Benita (@SiobhanBenita) June 1, 2021
Brexit gets stupider :)) https://t.co/a9bX6zQPuD
— Angus B MacNeil MP (@AngusMacNeilSNP) June 1, 2021
So Tim Martin backed Brexit and now wants the rules changing so he can get more staff
— Ant (@M0kujin) June 1, 2021
But I still can’t go and live and work visa free in the EU anymore
What an absolute bell end pic.twitter.com/DRG5SJReV0
Well well Brexit not working for Wetherspoons. Well it is not working for any of us. https://t.co/9w1uEvniw3
— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) June 1, 2021
You couldn't make it up is an over-used line, but really – you couldn't make it up: https://t.co/4G92Xzk9Wj
— Chris Grey (@chrisgreybrexit) June 1, 2021
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