June 1, 2026

A political firestorm has erupted after Lee Anderson blasted the Home Office over reports that nearly 80 vape companies are on the government’s licensed sponsor register, alongside more than 90 newsagents and 100 barbershops, with over 300,000 applications made through the Skilled Worker route in the past five years. In a blunt letter to the Secretary of State, he accused the system of being open to abuse and demanded answers on how many vape retailers have sponsored visas, how many licences have been suspended or revoked, and how many have faced inspections. He said the situation is an “insult” to the one million-plus young people not in work, training or education, and claimed Britain’s immigration system is in a “complete mess,” while stressing that a sponsor licence alone does not prove wrongdoing.

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