LABOUR'S FAILURE TO DEAL WITH THE RECESSION SEES UNEMPLOYMENT REACH WORSE LEVELS THAN 1997

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Aug 2009

Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield Paul Holmes has today released figures that show that unemployment throughout Derbyshire is reaching or has surpassed the levels of unemployment Labour inherited in 1997.

In six of the ten parliamentary constituencies in Derbyshire unemployment is now higher than in July 1997, with Erewash seeing unemployment at 35% higher than in 1997 and High Peak at 32% higher. Unemployment is 2% higher throughout Bolsover than it was in 1997 compared to Chesterfield where it is 14% lower than in 1997.

Chesterfield and Derby South are the only areas where unemployment is more the ten percent lower than in 1997. Since the recession started Chesterfield has consistently seen lower increases in unemployment than the Derbyshire average thanks to the pioneering economic development work undertaken by the Council.

Unemployment has risen 90% from July 2008 to July 2009 throughout Derbyshire, with increases as high 120% in High Peak and South Derbyshire and 141% in West Derbyshire and 111% in North East Derbyshire.

Commenting Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said,

"These figures are exceptionally worrying; with unemployment continuing to rise at record speed, the whole of Derbyshire could very easily reach unemployment levels worse than 1997."

"This has already happened throughout most of Derbyshire putting pay to the myth that Labour's gimmicks and posturing can help ordinary people and hard working families.

"Whilst the increases in Chesterfield are lower than in other areas, we are still creeping towards the 1997 level despite all the warm words and gimmicks from the Government.

"Gordon Brown promised to abolish boom and bust, but with over 23,000 people unemployed throughout Derbyshire now, as was the same in 1997 this promises rings as hollow as the promises to mend our broken economy, to rein in the big bonuses of bankers and protect people's jobs.

"New Labour created this mess and it is now obvious to all but Gordon Brown that Labour is incapable of taking the simple action to mend our economy and help and protect hard working families.