Boris Johnson to urge unemployed to join public sector to help Britain ‘build back better’

Boris Johnson is set to urge the unemployed to join the public sector to help Britain “build back better” this winter. The Conservative prime minister will encourage the public to consider the advantages of working in schools, hospitals, prisons and police stations.

It comes as the Department for Education approves more than 3,000 extra nursing university places to train the next generation of nurses.

The Ministry of Justice has also announced it is to hire 1,000 new probation officers, as part of plans to bring the service back in house following a failed privatisation effort.

The prime minister said: “We have seen more clearly than ever the heroic efforts of our public workers during this pandemic.

​“The fantastic teachers, police officers and NHS workers truly are the pride of the nation and embody the spirit of public duty that every one of us can aspire towards.

“Together, we are on a mission to build back better - protect our NHS, make our streets safer, educate the next generation and unleash Britain’s potential.”

The Home Office is also due to publish new figures on progress towards Mr Johnson’s pledge to recruit 20,000 police officers.