It's hurting, but it's not working (From Crewe Guardian)

It's hurting, but it's not working

10:37am Friday 10th February 2012 in Letters

UNEMPLOYMENT has risen to its highest level for 17 years, with the number of local young people claiming jobseeker's allowance for over six months doubling since the Tories came to power.

The Government's policy of cutting spending too fast and raising taxes too far has choked off the recovery and pushed up unemployment. It is proving to be a big mistake to have abolished Labour's Future Jobs Fund, leaving so many young people with few opportunities.

Rising unemployment and the Government's failing welfare to work programme are leading to a higher benefits bill, which is contributing to the additional borrowing announced by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement. It is hurting, but it is not working.

At the same time multi-million pound bank bonuses are set to be paid out, even in banks where the share price has almost halved.

This week MPs debated a proposal for the Government to take urgent action to kick start the economy, to promote jobs and growth and to reconsider their refusal to introduce a tax on bankers' bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs for young people.

This proposal was rejected because Tory and Lib Dem MPs trooped through the lobbies at the behest of their Party Whips. Crewe and Nantwich MP, Edward Timpson, was amongst them as he yet again turned his back on local unemployed young people and voted against the best interests of his constituents.

Guardian readers will decide for themselves whether he was right to vote this way, but at least they now know what the MP does in their name.

David Williams Former Labour candidate for Crewe and Nantwich