Claims that the European Union is responsible for curry house closures in the UK have been criticised by Liberal Democrat Catherine Beader MEP.
In a divisive attempt to rally support for the Brexit campaign, Vote Leave campaigner and Conservative Priti Patel MP recently stated EU immigration policy is directly responsible for restrictions on non-EU immigration.
However, on a visit to shopkeepers in Small Heath, Birmingham Catherine stated:
“Claims that the European Union is responsible for curry house closures in Birmingham are rubbish.
“The government’s rigid immigration rules, which mean curry houses would have to pay £35,000 per annum in order to legally employ chefs from outside the European Union is what is effecting this multi-billion pound industry, which employs dozens of people across Birmingham.
“The attempt by the Brexit campaign, and in particular Priti Patel, to gloss over the new regulations and suggest non-EU migration would expand if we left are simply untrue.
“The Leave campaign has failed to mention that the new immigration regulations introduced by Theresa May are the real restrictions on non-EU immigration which mean I have to pay my non-EU staff at least £35,000 a year to remain in the UK.
“The government should instead be putting restaurant workers on the “shortage occupation” list, this would enable the government to reduce stringent restrictions and allow more staff into the UK curry industry.”
