Umunna: Desperate situation as 9.9% of Londoners unemployed
London MP Chuka Umunna has urged the Government to change course after the Office of National Statistics today revealed that London’s unemployment rate increased by 10.4%, meaning that 9.9% of Londoners are now unemployed.
The January release by the Office of National Statistics showed that there were now 424,000 more people unemployed in the London region, a rise of 10.4% over the year. The Streatham constituency represented by Mr Umunna was revealed to have 500 more people claiming JSA in the last month than were doing so a year earlier.
Chuka Umunna urged the Government to do more to get jobs and growth back in the economy. The MP said that the figures represent the human cost being paid for the economic plans of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Government which is cutting spending and raising taxes too far and too fast, choking off growth and job creation.
Nationally unemployment reached its highest level since 1994, with 118,000 more people unemployment than in the last quarter, meaning that there are now 2.68 million people unemployed in the UK. The figures, released today by the Office for National Statistics, reported that the employment rate had fallen to 70.3%.
The figures demonstrate the impact of high unemployment on Government finances, with 142,500 more people claiming Job Seekers Allowance than this time last year.
Commenting, Streatham MP Mr Umunna, said:
“My heart goes out to the families of all those affected by unemployment. The 9.9% of Londoners who are desperately seeking work need a Government that is on their side, helping business to create the jobs and growth we all so desperately need.”
“It is a disaster that unemployment in London has risen by 10% – a disaster of the Governments own making. This desperate situation represents the human cost of the Government’s failed economic plans.”
“The Government’s plans are now clearly failing – even by their own measure. The extra 142,500 people that are now claiming Job Seekers Allowance, 500 of them in my own constituency, is damaging the Government’s finances at the same time as their economic plans are pushing more people out of work.”
“The Government should immediately implement our plan for jobs and growth which will boost job creation and therefore ensure we reduce the deficit in the long term as the benefit bill reduces.”
