Unemployment nears 10% in Edmonton but Government has no real plan for growth

The most troubling aspect of this is that all the official projections see unemployment rising further this year. There are already 4,412 people in Edmonton claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and the number of claimants is 81 higher than in March 2010 and 32 higher than in February 2011. How much higher do these figures have to climb before the Government sits up and listens? There are now 25.8 claimants in Edmonton per Jobcentre Plus vacancy - the 25th worst ratio in the whole of the UK. Do we have to reach 30 claimants per vacancy before people are given a lifeline?

Instead of supporting people back into work through training and apprenticeships like Labour were doing; the Government is abolishing in-to-work schemes for young people, cutting benefits and hiking VAT to add to families' burdens.

The Government could introduce a sensible and reasonable tax on bankers' bonuses to finance 90,000 jobs for young people and a proper plan for growth. Without a faster growing economy, or even a growth plan, the Government's changes won't push people into a job, they will push them onto benefits, raising the welfare bills to boot and therefore having no impact on reducing the deficit.

It seems that we really are seeing the same old Tories that we saw in recessions in previous decades who are content to let people sink or swim. It's true to say the Government's cuts aren't working, but they're definitely hurting.

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