Kylie MacLellan, Elizabeth Piper

MANCHESTER (Reuters) -Prime minister Boris Johnson stated on Sunday that he will not allow “uncontrolled immigration” again to resolve fuel, gas, and Christmas food shortages. This was the first indication of how such strains are related to Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Johnson had to defend his government again at the Conservative Party conference against claims from people who couldn’t get gasoline for their vehicles, gas company executives struggling to cope with an increase in wholesale prices, and retailers warning about Christmas shortages.

British leader wanted to make use of the conference in order to close the book on COVID-19 over 18 months and to focus on his 2019 promises for tackling regional inequality and crime.

The prime minister is now on the defensive nine months after Britain exited the EU. He said that this would allow the country to shape its economy better.

The only way to move forward in our country’s future is to not just push the huge lever of uncontrolled immigration and let large numbers of workers into our country. He said that he would not go back to the failed old model of low wages and low skilled supported by uncontrolled migration.

“When voters voted in favor of change in 2016, and again in 2019, they voted to end a flawed model of UK economics that relied on low wages, low skills, and poor productivity. We are now moving away from this.”

This was the closest that the Prime Minister came to acknowledging that Britain’s departure from the EU caused strains in supply chains, and the labour market. It affected everything from fuel supplies to possible shortages of Christmas turkeys.

However, he made it clear that he will not allow immigration to be used to help fill these gaps. This shifts the burden to employers to increase wages and attract workers.

Oliver Dowden of his Conservative Party chair said that the government is taking steps to hire more truck drivers.

Sky News’ George Eustice stated that he will ensure that everyone has their Thanksgiving turkey and that he knows that George Eustice, Environment Secretary, is very concerned about this matter.

Instead of Johnson’s hoped-for reset in Manchester, England, this conference will be overshadowed and criticised by supply-chain crisis.

Johnson might also face criticism for not adhering to the Conservatives’ tradition of supporting low taxes and increasing them in order to benefit the health-care and social services sectors.

He stated that while we don’t intend to increase taxes, what we won’t do is become irresponsible about the public finances. If I don’t have to, it is not something I want.