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| The UK jobless figures speak for themselves. And Osborne knows it | The UK jobless figures speak for themselves. And Osborne knows it |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| I think we can say the jury is in. And the verdict is blunt: this government's economic plan has failed and failed badly. On Tuesday, the IMF's chief economist warned George Osborne to change course. Now we see new evidence showing why. | I think we can say the jury is in. And the verdict is blunt: this government's economic plan has failed and failed badly. On Tuesday, the IMF's chief economist warned George Osborne to change course. Now we see new evidence showing why. |
| Three years into this parliament, unemployment is not only higher than in 2010, it is soaring up as companies lay off temporary and part-time workers. Seventy thousand people joined the ranks of the unemployed. Youth unemployment rose by 20,000 and is now within a whisker of the one million mark. Long-term unemployment, also close to a million, rose once more. | |
| But just as shocking were the figures laying bare what's happening to pay packets. Real wages are now £1,700 a year smaller than they were in 2010. That's why working people feel they're going backwards. Because they are going backwards. And that's why it is such a scandal that this government has chosen to hit working families with tax and benefit changes while giving millionaires an average tax cut worth £100,000. | But just as shocking were the figures laying bare what's happening to pay packets. Real wages are now £1,700 a year smaller than they were in 2010. That's why working people feel they're going backwards. Because they are going backwards. And that's why it is such a scandal that this government has chosen to hit working families with tax and benefit changes while giving millionaires an average tax cut worth £100,000. |
| So on top of smaller pay packets, families now have to deal with £891 worth of tax rises, tax-credit cuts and cuts to help. Together this means you have to work a month and half longer to make the same as you did in 2010. This government is not only failing. It's unfair. | So on top of smaller pay packets, families now have to deal with £891 worth of tax rises, tax-credit cuts and cuts to help. Together this means you have to work a month and half longer to make the same as you did in 2010. This government is not only failing. It's unfair. |
| Behind the headlines the picture looks darker and darker. Growth is flatlining. Inflation is too high. Business investment has barely risen. Exports are actually falling. The "rebalancing" of our economy is just not happening. | Behind the headlines the picture looks darker and darker. Growth is flatlining. Inflation is too high. Business investment has barely risen. Exports are actually falling. The "rebalancing" of our economy is just not happening. |
| It's no wonder ministers are so desperate to divert attention away from what's really going on. But for all the bluster there is one very simple truth that they can't escape. The welfare bill they promised to bring down is rising – and is now £21 billion higher than expected. Osborne is taking more and more from working families because his plan has failed, the Work Programme doesn't work and far too many people are left locked out of jobs. | It's no wonder ministers are so desperate to divert attention away from what's really going on. But for all the bluster there is one very simple truth that they can't escape. The welfare bill they promised to bring down is rising – and is now £21 billion higher than expected. Osborne is taking more and more from working families because his plan has failed, the Work Programme doesn't work and far too many people are left locked out of jobs. |
| The best way to bring down the benefits bill isn't to reach for cheap headlines, it's to get people into work, paying into the system instead of drawing out benefits. Welfare reform that is tough, fair, and that works. That's how we get Britain moving again. | The best way to bring down the benefits bill isn't to reach for cheap headlines, it's to get people into work, paying into the system instead of drawing out benefits. Welfare reform that is tough, fair, and that works. That's how we get Britain moving again. |
| It's time the government listened to the IMF and changed course – starting with Labour's idea for a compulsory jobs guarantee to ensure we get everyone young or old on the dole long-term back into a real paid job – one they would be required to take or face losing their benefits. We can't go on like this. The IMF is right. And today's jobless figures speak for themselves. | It's time the government listened to the IMF and changed course – starting with Labour's idea for a compulsory jobs guarantee to ensure we get everyone young or old on the dole long-term back into a real paid job – one they would be required to take or face losing their benefits. We can't go on like this. The IMF is right. And today's jobless figures speak for themselves. |
| • This article was amended on 17 April 2013. It originally stated that youth unemployment rose by 40,000. This should have read 20,000 and has now been corrected. |