WESTMORLAND and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron warned the Government that its new immigration proposals would leave a hole in the workforce required to build affordable homes in South Lakeland.

It is expected that a salary threshold of £25,600 will be set for skilled migrants from outside the EU.

Speaking during Treasury Questions, he said: “In the South Lakes, we have 3,000 local families waiting for a council house.

“Whether it be building the affordable homes we need for local families, or providing hospitality in our world-class National Park, it’s abundantly clear that the Government’s new immigration plans will bite hard in Cumbria," said Mr Farron.

“We need to see the Government start to live in the real world and come forward with real proposals about how they intend to address the huge gaps in the workforce that their new plans are set to create.”