More Must be Done To Tackle Unemployment As The North-South Divide Widens

Unemployment has affected so many people in North Durham. So many people I speak to have either been made unemployed themselves or have had friends or members of their family who have been made unemployed over the past few years. It is clear that we must do more to create jobs and tackle unemployment.

The unemployment figures announced last week show that, in North Durham, unemployment is over 140% higher than it was in September 2007. The North East has the highest rate of unemployment in the country and there is a growing North-South divide.

We need bold action to tackle the jobs crisis caused by Gordon Brown's recession. That is why Conservatives are proposing an additional 400,000 apprenticeships, training places and placements, as well as an additional 50,000 Further Education places and 10,000 Higher Education places. We also need to do more to incentivise business to create jobs and create a world class all age careers service. This would be the decisive action we need to tackle unemployment.