Conservative response to John McDonnell’s speech at the TUC conference

Commenting Philip Hammond MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:

“This is Labour’s record on workers: The last Labour government left over half a million more people out of work and every Labour government leaving office with unemployment higher than when it started. 

“Under the Conservatives, there are over 3 million more people in work with the security of a regular pay packet, unemployment is at an all time low and the lowest paid have seen the fastest rise in pay for 20 years thanks to our introduction of the National Living Wage.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• ·         Employment is up by over 3 million since Labour were in power – meaning over 1,000 jobs have been created on average every day. That’s over 3,300,000 more people who have the security of bringing home a regular pay packet. In the three months to April 2010, there were 29.05 million people in employment. In the three months to June 2018 there were 32.39 million people in work (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 14 August 2018,link).

• ·         Over three-quarters of the rise in employment since Labour were in power has been in full-time jobs. Between February to April 2010, the final three months of Labour’s time in government, there were 21,171,000 people working full-time.  In the three months to June 2018, there were 23,852,000 full-time workers.  This is a rise of 2.631 million since Labour were in power – 79 per cent of the 3.3 million jobs created since 2010 (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 14 August 2018, link).

• ·         Less than a quarter of the jobs created since 2010 have been part-time roles.  Between February to April 2010, the final three months of the Labour government, there were 7,827,000 people working part-time.  In the three months to June 2018, there were 8,534,000 part-time workers.  This is a rise of 715,000 since Labour were in power – 21 per cent of the 3.3 million jobs created since 2010 (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 14 August 2018,link).

• ·         No Labour government has ever left office with unemployment lower than it was when they came into government.  Every Labour government has left office with unemployment higher than it was when it came into government. Comparing roughly the election periods of October to December 1974 to March to May 1979, the unemployment level increased from 976,000 to 1.4 million.  Taking May to July 1997 to March to May 2010, the unemployment level increased from 2.1 million to 2.5 million (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 13 September 2017, link; Fullfact, 7 April 2014, link).

• ·         Nearly half a million more people unemployed under Labour – in Labour’s last term in office unemployment increased by one million. In February to April 1997, there were 2.047 million people unemployed. In February to April 2010 there were 2.510 million people unemployed, an increase of 463,000 or 23 per cent (ONS, MGSC, 15 October 2014, link).

• ·         Boosting the rights of UK workers, our ‘Good Work plan’ puts the UK at the forefront in addressing the challenges and opportunities of modern ways of working. We have responded to the Matthew Taylor Review with the Good Work plan, which means better, higher-paying jobs and stronger rights for millions of workers. As the world of work is changing we have to make sure we have the right structures in place to enhance the UK’s position as one of the best places to work and to do business (DBEIS, press release, 7 February 2018, link).