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Labour calls for action on youth unemployment in the East of England

Ed Balls, Labour's East of England Champion, is today backing Labour’s call in parliament for action to tackle youth unemployment across the UK.

Unemployment in Britain is rising and has reached its highest level in 17 years. The Tory-led Government’s economic policies are hurting but not working.

Ed Balls MP, Labour's East of England Champion and Shadow Chancellor, said: 

“There are 34,100  18-24 year olds out of work in the East of England and the economy has flatlined for the last year.

“But there is a better way, a £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund up to 4, 000 jobs in the East of England for young people is part of Labour’s 5 point plan to create jobs and economic growth.”

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary added:

“Youth unemployment is now reaching crisis levels, and young people are staying unemployed for longer and longer.

“Labour plans would get 100,000 young people back into work up and down the country - paid for with a sensible and fair tax on bankers’ bonuses.

“Sadly David Cameron and George Osborne don’t seem to understand that more people on the dole – claiming benefits rather than paying taxes – will just make it harder to get the deficit down.”