LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan pledged today to tackle serious hospitality sector staff shortages that he says threaten to derail the capital’s economic recovery from Covid-19.

The move was widely welcomed, although unions stressed the importance of dealing with the sector’s chronic low pay and gig economy status.

Measures announced by the mayor include direct support for skills training, alongside pressure on ministers to review “damaging” new immigration rules and introduce a “coronavirus recovery visa” aimed at bringing foreign workers back to Britain.