Colchester Labour Party

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Rise in unemployment hits the East

The latest unemployment figures, released today, show a worrying increase in levels of unemployment across the country.  The UK unemployment total rose in the three months to June, by 38,000 to 2.49m.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance has risen to 1.56 million, its biggest increase since May 2009.

The figures expose the Government’s complacency about getting people back to work and that their austerity measures are hurting, not working.

Stephen Timms MP, Labour’s Shadow Employment Minister, said:
 
“Only days ago the Chancellor called Britain’s economy a safe haven and today we learn that unemployment rose by 38,000 - the largest rise in unemployment for nine months, and the number of unemployed women is at a 23 year high.”
 
Despite the recession ending over a year and half ago, growth in the economy has flat lined for the last nine months.

The figures were released after it was revealed that the Department for Work and Pensions has been spending more money on its phones and postage bills than on plans to tackle youth unemployment.
 
“The Tories are creating a vicious circle in our economy because they are cutting too far and too fast – hitting families and costing jobs. More people out of work and on benefits makes it harder to get the deficit down,” Mr Timms added.
 
Today’s statistics show that the South and East of Britain have seen the sharpest rise in unemployment since 2005.

Colchester Labour Party Chairman Jordan Newell added:

“This recovery feels worse than the actual recession - inflation up, gas and electricity prices up, rail fares up, unemployment up. It's time for a Plan B and for the Government to admit they were wrong. It's time to ditch austerity and to invest and grow our economy into a proper recovery.”