A SALISBURY man who was turned down for a job in Amesbury for being British has said he was left speechless.

Michael Fowler, of Fisherton Street, was denied the chance to interview for the role of a lorry driver making deliveries, by an agency who said their “positions exclude British candidates”.

The 39-year-old, who has been a driver for about 12 years, said: “I was just gobsmacked. I thought I must have read the job advert wrong, but I hadn’t.”

A spokesman for Blu Global denied the claims and told the Journal their policy was “not to discriminate against any potential candidate”, adding: “We refute any allegations that we, as a business, discriminate in any way against our UK based applicants.

“No candidate is denied a chance of employment based on their nationality, age, race, gender or sexual orientation.”

But when it was was shown a copy of the email from recruitment consultant Plamena Ivanova asking Michael: “Are you British, because our positions exclude British candidates?”, the agency said it was “completely shocked”.

The job advert Michael answered was for drivers “to live and work in the UK” and said applicants must be an EU citizen and have a good level of English.

Michael said he “didn’t know what to say” about being rejected for the job eight miles from his home, despite being eligible for interview.

Senior solicitor at Trethowans in Salisbury, James Humphery said the incident “does raise questions” about whether any discrimination had taken place.

He added: “It’s very disappointing that Michael has received such appalling treatment – and a sad reflection of the depths to which some business practices have sunk.”

Blu Global said Ms Ivanova’s contract had been terminated as a result of the incident, adding: “We can confirm that we continuously place candidates of European and British nationality within all of our past and present clients as we advertise for, and recruit, candidates both in the UK and across mainland Europe.

“Any deviation from this policy, by any member of staff or any independent person/organisation acting under or using the Blu Global brand, is not supported in any way by the company and we will fully investigate this allegation.”