Why Burnham’s ambition to build thousands of new council houses is at risk

• Andy Burnham's ambitions to build tens of thousands of new council houses are at risk due to a severe shortage of skilled construction workers following Brexit.
• More than 200,000 EU workers have left the UK construction sector since 2019 due to post-Brexit immigration rule changes and the pandemic.
• The scaffolding sector alone faces an estimated shortage of 40,000 workers over the next five years, alongside significant vacancies for carpenters and bricklayers.
• An ageing workforce is worsening the crisis, with around one million additional workers needed over the next decade to replace retirees and meet demand.
• The trade skills shortage threatens the government's target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029, while Burnham continues to back Labour's red lines on EU free movement.

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Brexit skills crisis puts Burnham’s council house building pledge under threat