Bryant: 'There are negative sides to migration'
Shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant has sought to explain newspaper reports of a leaked speech in which he was due to criticise two of the UK's biggest retailers.
He has become embroiled in a row with Tesco and Next over claims they favoured Eastern European workers over Britons - claims the companies reject.
Speaking to Today programme presenter Evan Davis, Mr Bryant explained his argument:
"There are negative sides to migration in terms of the labour market, in particular for those who are in, as it were, spitting distance of the national minimum wage.
"My question is, is there a way in which we can regulate labour markets in this country better so that foreign migrant workers are not exploited and also make sure that local workers stand a better chance of getting those jobs?"
First broadcast on the Today programme on Monday 12 August 2013.
12 Aug 2013
- From the section UK