Government must act to stem the rise in local unemployment - Kevin Lang

3.21.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Oct 2009

Kevin Lang is campaigning for more help for those out of work in Edinburgh North & Leith

Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to do more to help people in Edinburgh North & Leith avoid long term unemployment after another rise in jobless figures and a 68% increase in the number of local people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance over the last year.

Over 2,500 people in Edinburgh North & Leith are now claiming Jobseekers' Allowance, an increase of 1,000 on the same time last year.

There are no more people out of work in Edinburgh North & Leith than in any other part of Edinburgh.

Liberal Democrat, Kevin Lang said,

"Every week, I meet local people who have lost their job or have a close friend of family member who has been made redundant. There are many more who worry about their own long term employment and want to know there is a Government prepared to help should the worst happen.

"There is now a risk that long term unemployment emerges as the real legacy of this economic recession. We know that the longer someone stays out of work, the more difficult it is to get back into employment.

"The Government should immediately scrap the pointless VAT cut and invest that money in creating new internships and work experience placements so that people in Edinburgh North & Leith who are without a job can get the training they need to avoid long term unemployment."