Labour

Unemployment fall welcome but clear signs of lasting damage to UK - Byrne

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to today’s Labour Market Statistics, said:
 
“Today’s headline falls in unemployment is welcome news. But there are now very clear signs of lasting and long-term damage to Britain with long-term unemployment at its highest level since 1995 and more than a million young people are still out of work.
 
“It is worrying that the number of people on unemployment benefits has started to rise again and almost one and a half million people are working part-time because they can't get a full-time job.
 
“This is now costing Britain a fortune in money and wasted potential. Nine billion pounds extra is now needed for extra dole payments and housing benefit bills. Worse, the Government’s failure to get Britain back to work means high long-term unemployment which will act as a drag on growth for years to come.
 
“David Cameron and George Osborne promised change and to secure the recovery, but their failed policies have delivered a double-dip recession made in Downing Street. We urgently need a plan for jobs and growth to get the economy moving again and get people back to work and they should start by bringing in Labour’s Real Jobs Guarantee.”