Chancellor responds to Labour Market Statistics + Labour reaction

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has responded to the Office for National Statistics' Labour Market Statistics

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

“It's good news that real wages are on the up for the sixth month in a row and unemployment remains low, but the job isn’t done. Our tax cuts are part of a plan to get people back to work so we can grow the economy - but we must stick with it.”

Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on today’s labour market statistics, said:

“Today’s figures confirm the Tories utter failure on welfare reform.

“We are the only G7 country whose employment rate hasn't returned to pre pandemic levels and a staggering 2.8 million people are now out of work due to long term sickness, costing taxpayers billions more a year in spiralling benefit bills.

“The Tories cannot be the change from their own failings. Labour’s plan will tackle the root causes of worklessness by driving down NHS waiting lists, reforming social security, making work pay, and supporting people into good jobs across every part of the country.”