THE MERIDEN and Solihull East MP has blamed the Government for the rising rate of unemployment.
Saqib Bhatti MP also criticised the Chancellor’s economic policies.
In the three months to September, the rate of unemployment in the UK reached five per cent – this means unemployment has reached its highest rate since the period covering December 2020 to February 2021, right in the middle of the Covid pandemic.
In addition, in the past year over 180,000 jobs have been lost according to HMRC payroll data.
Of this figure, nearly 40 per cent was in the retail and wholesale sectors which have been particularly impacted by the Government’s decision to increase National Insurance rates.
Mr Bhatti also pointed to concerning data from his constituency which shows the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits, including Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit, was on the up in the past year.
Mr Bhatti said: “These unemployment figures make stark reading and show how Labour is letting the West Midlands down.
“The Conservatives created 800 jobs a day on average over 14 years. Rather than build on this legacy, this clueless Labour government has hiked taxes on businesses and driven up joblessness. “
