Local Youth Unemployment up 125% since January
9th November 2011
As Labour led a debate in the House of Commons on youth unemployment Alan Whitehead MP today called for more to be done about the dramatic rise in long term youth unemployment in Southampton.
New figures released by Labour today have shown that since January there has been a 64% rise in young people on the dole for six months or more across the UK, and a shocking 125% increase in youth unemployment in Southampton Test. The Tory-led Government’s economic policies are hurting but not working.
Alan Whitehead MP says:
“This summer I called for a stronger local plan to tackle youth unemployment in Southampton. Since then we’ve seen local youth unemployment continue to spiral. Our city urgently needs action to create new local jobs- not in 6 months or a year, but now.
“A tougher tax on bankers’ bonuses, reinvested into the local economy, would help create 5000 new jobs in the south-east. I’ll continue to push for these measures to be implemented as part of Labour’s 5 Point Plan to create local jobs and growth.”
Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary says:
“Youth unemployment is now reaching crisis levels, and young people are staying unemployed for longer and longer.
“Labour plans would get 100,000 young people back into work up and down the country - paid for with a sensible and fair tax on bankers’ bonuses.
“Sadly David Cameron and George Osborne don’t seem to understand that more people on the dole – claiming benefits rather than paying taxes – will just make it harder to get the deficit down.”
More information
Labour has set out a clear five-point plan for jobs, to help struggling families and support small businesses. Our jobs plan includes:
- A £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs for young people and build 25,000 affordable homes
- Bringing forward long-term investment projects, like new school buildings
- Temporarily reversing the VAT rise – a £450 boost for families with children
- A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements and repairs to help small businesses
- A tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers
For further information on Labour’s plan for jobs and growth go to: www.labour.org.uk/plan
Unemployment in Britain is rising and has reached its highest level in 17 years and youth unemployment has hit a record level of 991,000. See more at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Labour+Market
What do you think about this story? Email Alan