According to the latest statistics youth unemplyment in Swindon has more than trebled since the Tories gained control of Swindon Council from 2.5% in 2000 to 8.8% in 2011.
The people of Swindon will be therefore be extremely concerned to learn that the Tory Council appears to have no clear economic strategy for Swindon. The cuts to the Connexions service and scrapping of the Future Jobs Fund will make this problem even worse.
The worldwide recession has left many local people looking for work or fearful about losing their job. UK unemployment rose by 114,000 between June and August to 2.57 million – a 17-year high, according to official figures.
We know how corrosive and damaging unemployment is to local communities, and how demoralising the search for work can be. The economic future of Swindon depends on keeping people in work, and building a bright economic future for our town. Instead of cutting public services we need to build the new businesses, the new jobs and the new economy that our country and town needs.