Labour accuses government of running ‘out of ideas’ for getting Brits back to work

LABOUR has accused ministers of running “out of ideas” for getting Brits back to work – as figures show unemployment is still higher than pre-Covid.

The employment rate among 16-64 year olds was 76 per cent in March-May 2023, compared with 76.6 per cent in December–February 2020.

According to the ONS employment among 16-64 year olds is 74,000 lower than it was pre-pandemic.

Analysis by Labour shows London has seen the largest fall with 80,000 fewer people in employment and a more than two percent fall in the employment rate compared with the start of 2020.

Wales, the East Midlands and the South West also saw significant falls in employment.

Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth MP, said ministers were “failing” and “out of ideas”.

He added: “We will create good jobs across every part of the country and our welfare reform and job support plan will get Britain working again.”

But Minister of State for Employment Guy Opperman hit back: “Labour-run Wales has the highest unemployment in the UK.

“No Labour government has left office with unemployment lower than when they took office.

“Time and time again Labour have shown they can never be trusted to get more people into work.”