Chris Philp said he wants working hard to be more part of British culture. (Image: Getty)
The Shadow Home Secretary says Britons need to work harder to keep up with countries like and in the global economic race.
Chris Philp said nine million working-age adults are unemployed and that the UK needs to “up its game.”
He told that working hard is something he would like to “infuse more into our national culture”.
The senior said: “There are nine million working-age adults who are not working.
“As we compete globally with countries like South Korea, China, India, we need a work ethic, we need everybody to be making a contribution.
“We are in a global race that means we have got be competitive and it means we have got to work hard.
“As a country we need to up our game.”
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Mr Philp has been the MP for Croydon South since 2015 and was Chief Secretary to the Treasury during ’ brief time in Number 10.
He has also worked in several ministerial departments, and before his political career, he worked in finance and travel.
He said he had a strong work ethic in his early teens, adding: “I found that working hard brought its own reward and I’ve kept doing that ever since.”
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Chris Philp says for the UK to compete globally, the whole country needs to be contributing. (Image: Getty)
According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, the , although wages did increase during this period.
Data also shows UK unemployment levels increased by around 190,000 over the last year.
On Thursday, to get illegal Channel crossings down after the Government published its Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.