VILLIERS HITS OUT AT GOVERNMENT OVER RISING UNEPLOYMENT IN BARNET

MP for Chipping Barnet, Theresa Villiers, has slammed the Government over their failure to combat rising unemployment in Barnet.

The latest unemployment figures reveal that since January 2008, unemployment in the borough has risen sharply. In Chipping Barnet, the number of unemployed reached 1,562 in January of this year – an increase of more than 50% compared to last year.

Theresa Villiers said. “This is very grim news for my constituents. These latest figures reveal the harsh truth of just how devastating the recession is for thousands of families across Barnet. One of the biggest worries for my constituents right now is the threat of unemployment, but all we get from the Government is hollow promises, designed to cover up for the fact that Gordon Brown’s policies are simply not working.”

“Not one of Labour’s plans has managed to rescue or boost the economy. The Conservatives have outlined a number of policies, such as our National Loan Guarantee Scheme and giving tax breaks to employers, to help rebuild confidence in the economy and to protect jobs and small businesses during the credit crisis. Equally, we have put forward proposals to give incentives to business to take on the unemployed and to ensure they get the training they need to return to work as soon as possible.”