Friday 23 January 2015

Local MP welcomes record levels of employment

Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock has today welcomed new statistics which show that the number of people out of work in the UK has fallen, in the three months to November, to the lowest level in more than six years.

The numbers from the Office of National Statistics show that countrywide there were 30.80 million people in work.

In addition, comparing September to November 2014 with the previous year, shows that pay for employees increased by 1.7%.

For Stephen Metcalfe's constituency of South Basildon and East Thurrock, the latest data shows that the number of claimants of Job Seeker's Allowance in December 2014 had fallen to 1,183. This is 767 lower than in December the year before.

Stephen Metcalfe speaking today commented, “The evidence shows that the Conservative long-term economic plan continues to bring further security to the British people and their families.”

“We now have record numbers of people in work. And despite what Labour might claim, wages are actually growing AHEAD of inflation, with disposable income now higher than in any year under the last Labour Government.”

“It is laughable that Ed Miliband predicted that the Conservative economic plan would 'lead to the disappearance of a million jobs'. There are now 1.75 million more people in work! This is a fantastic achievement.”

“I am so pleased to see these economic benefits being felt in the local community of Basildon and Thurrock. Letting Labour get their hands on our economy, would risk all of the progress we have made so far. We cannot allow this to happen”.