Prospective Conservative MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock Stephen Metcalfe, has responded to the Labour comparison between 199 unemployment statistics and today’s.
He said: “Any fall in the level of unemployment is welcome news. But yesterday’s figures are still a real cause for concern. Economic inactivity has hit a record high and there are 2.3 million people out there, out of work and who want a job, but aren’t included in the unemployment figures. We still have a long way to go to undo the damage done by Labour’s recession.
“Comparing yesterday’s figures with those of 18 years ago does not make it any easier for those who have lost their jobs this time round. Nor is it any comfort for the thousands of people working in the private sector who have been asked to take pay cuts and go onto short time working, none of whom are counted in the published figures.
“We have set out a bold plan to Get Britain Working again including 400,000 extra apprenticeships and training places for young people over the next two years, to ensure that a generation is not written off in this recession. We will also create a big, bold and simple National Loan Guarantee Scheme to help get credit flowing and save jobs and tax breaks for companies which create new jobs, and cuts in National Insurance and Corporation Tax for all small companies.”
