The country is already close to being on its knees in terms of the workforce capacity to build and develop the infrastructure and housing we need. Coming out of the EU will not dampen any of the demand for that, and losing access to the skilled EU labour will only heighten constraints and add extra costs.

It’s worrying that the government doesn’t appear to read its own forecasts when setting out its position with the EU. If they don’t get their act together, there won’t be enough workers to build the manufacturing plants in this apparently “brave new world”. There won’t be an HS2 project delivered on time. There will be no Crossrail 2. There will be lights out if the energy plants are not online in time. And the housing crisis will escalate even further, and become a matter of international shame and embarrassment.

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