News from Sheffield Labour

As unemployment rises again, Labour tells Clegg to stand up for Sheffield

Labour have hit out at Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg when on the same day as it was revealed that unemployment has risen to its highest level for 16 years, the main concern of the Deputy Prime Minister has been to criticise the Labour council about bin collections.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate that unemployment now stands at 2.67 million and increased by 48,000 in the three months to December, with the pain being felt particularly hard in Sheffield and across the north of England.

A string of recent reports confirm that the Governments spending cuts are hitting northern cities such as Sheffield the hardest, whilst at the same time many wealthy areas in southern Tory heartlands are receiving minimal cuts.

Recent research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation confirmed that government cuts to grants specifically focused towards the needs of the most deprived authorities are resulting in the most deprived authorities facing a much more severe cut than the wealthiest areas in the country. The report indicates that urban and deprived areas get the worst deal, with affluent and rural areas receiving the best.

In addition to this Government funds such as the council tax freeze, disproportionately benefit wealthier local authorities, who have a larger council tax base and further shift funding away from areas with the greatest need.

A similar report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies categorically stated that ’spending cuts are larger absolutely and proportionately in urban and poorer parts of England than in more affluent rural and suburban districts. It also means cuts are larger in London and the northern regions of England than in southern regions.’

In light of this council services are being hit hard and in Sheffield Labour have been forced to take tough decisions in order to protect services for the most vulnerable. Labour have also prioritised tackling youth unemployment through investing in the Sheffield Apprenticeship Scheme and maintaining programmes to support the local economy.

Labour Leader of Sheffield City Council, Councillor Julie Dore, said: “This week we found out that unemployment has increased again and is at its highest level for 16 years. This Government are failing to grow the economy and their choices to cut key schemes such as the Future Jobs Fund has led to youth unemployment doubling in the last year.

“Last week we announced the £55 million of cuts that the Government are forcing us to make in Sheffield this year alone, but councils in the wealthiest areas of the country are receiving no cuts at all. It is exactly because Nick Clegg and his Tory colleagues are cutting our budget so heavily that we are having to take these tough decisions.

“Nick Clegg is part of this Government and is allowing all of this to happen. In light of this it is unbelievable that all he wants to talk about is bin collections when he has failed so spectacularly to stand up for Sheffield. It is disgraceful that he has presided over Sheffield Council having a third of its budget cut as the same time some of the wealthiest areas in the country are receiving no cuts at all.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• David Blunkett backs Rev Dr Alan Billings for Police and Crime Commissioner - 9 May 2012
• Sheffield Labour unveil new Cabinet - 9 May 2012
• Cameron promises one thing, Cities' Minister another - 30 April 2012