Bosworth has record rise in unemployment under Labour

Shock figures revealed by local Liberal Democrats show that unemployment has risen more in Bosworth than in any other constituency in the country since Labour came to power in 1997.

The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance in Bosworth is up by over two-thirds third (67.8%) since 1997. In contrast, the number of claimants has gone down a fifth (20.1%) across the country as a whole since 1997, despite the recent financial crisis.

Michael Mullaney Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Bosworth said "This record rise in unemployment is just another example of how the Labour government have let people in Hinckley and Bosworth down.

"Labour came to power in 1997 saying things can only get better. Well they certainly haven't got any better for the people who have been joining the lengthening dole queues in our area.

"It's shocking that Bosworth should have had the biggest rise in unemployment of anyone of the 587 constituencies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"Instead of throwing £12.5bn on a VAT cut that isn't getting shoppers spending or preventing businesses from going bust, the government should be investing that money to create jobs today and green infrastructure for the future. We should be insulating millions of homes, as well as schools and hospitals; we should be building tens of thousands of desperately needed zero-carbon social homes; plus we should be revitalising this country's flagging railway network."

Other nearby constituencies including Blaby, Charnwood, Nuneaton and North Warwickshire had amongst the biggest rises in unemployment since Labour came to power in 1997.

Ends

Notes to editors; The figures for changes in unemployment since 1997 can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-026.pdf

pages 36-47. The 2nd column on the left ranks all 587 constituencies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in order of changes in unemployment since 1997. The 1st having the biggest fall in unemployment (Bath) and the 587th having the biggest rise in unemployment (Bosworth).

Figures for Scottish constituencies could not be calculated because of changes to their boundaries since 1997.

The previous month's figures can be found at

http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-013.pdf pages 36-47 they also put Bosworth as having the biggest rise in unemployment.