It seems that migrants can’t win. There’s often a complaint that people come to the UK without speaking fluent English. But in the same breath, there’s some resistance to taxpayer-funded English as an Additional Language (EAL) courses that would help them learn. There is an argument that they should be made to pay for these classes.
The problem is that these good folk are already low paid. How could they afford it? The UK can’t function without these key workers. It is an investment in the UK economy to provide these classes.
The reality is simple: you don’t need a PhD in English to be a fruit picker—or to do any number of low-paid, essential jobs that keep this country running.
Let’s be honest: these roles are difficult, physically demanding, and often undervalued. They’re also jobs that many British people are simply unwilling to do. Migrants step in to fill these labour gaps, helping harvest our food, clean our public spaces, and care for our elderly. To insist that they must speak fluent English before arriving is not only unrealistic—it’s self-defeating.
But this isn’t where the conversation ends. Once people are in the UK, learning English is not just desirable—it’s essential. It enables migrants to understand their rights, access public services, protect themselves from exploitation, and contribute more fully to our communities.
That’s why I believe we must invest in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) provision in our colleges and further education settings. These courses are not luxuries—they are a tool for integration. When people can speak and understand English, they can navigate life in the UK with dignity and confidence.
At the National Centre for Diversity, we know that real inclusion doesn’t just happen. It requires action, investment, and political will. Language is one of the most powerful tools we have to build bridges between communities, improve cohesion, and make sure that no one is left behind.
So let’s stop using language as a political football. Let’s support migrants not just to work—but to belong.
