Diane points finger at Government cuts regime as youth unemployment rises to record levels

19 Jan 2011
MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington has criticised the Government following the release of UK unemployment rates today. Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the youth unemployment level rose to a record 951,000, the highest level since records began in 1992. 

This figure was up 3.3% from the previous comparable period, seeing a 32,000 rise in the three months leading to November in 2010. The overall unemployment figure increased as a result of this to an alarming 2.5 million people, and with redundancies also on the rise (this figure rose by 14,000 to 157,000 in total) the total level of unemployment only looks set to rise. 

The ONS report also made for bad reading to those still in work as the employment figure fell by 69,000 to 29 million, the biggest drop since summer 2009. Average pay rates for people still in work remained stagnant at 2.1% equalling that of the previous month.

The report arrives on the eve of a vote in Parliament on the future of the education maintenance allowance, and months before a second wave of Government cuts kick in. Diane expressed great concern at this point, stating: 

“These figures are a damning indictment on this Tory-Led Government’s ill-thought out programme to get people into work. Just nine months into the job and unemployment is already rising rapidly while youth unemployment is rising to record levels, it just isn’t good enough.

“I am sure the Coalition will be quick to mention that the number of people claiming job seekers allowance and other benefits has fallen, but the numbers do not tell the whole story. As a result of the Government’s draconian cuts programme, and unnecessarily strict changes to eligibility criteria, it is much more difficult to claim for state support than before, meaning thousands of disabled people, single parents, carers and NEETS are being denied state benefit in order to balance the books. This Government needs to take a look at these figures and rethink this ridiculous regime of cuts; otherwise the future for the unemployed will remain very bleak indeed”.

Ends
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