Henry Smith, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Crawley, has welcomed new figures showing 1,737 fewer people in Crawley are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance compared to 2010, representing a 64% per cent drop.

Henry said:

“While I am pleased that Crawley unemployment is down by 1,737 since 2010, I am aware that there is more to do.

“Fewer people are relying on Jobseeker’s Allowance in Crawley – that’s more families here with the stability and security of a regular pay packet. Having been unemployed myself in the past, I am well aware there is more to do for those still seeking employment.”

Over 1,000 jobs a day have been created across the country since the last General Election, and the UK has created more jobs than the rest of the European Union combined.

Around one in 50 people in work are on zero-hours contracts, and action is being taken to clamp down on abuses by banning exclusivity contracts.

Over the last year, 80% of jobs created have been full-time.

Henry said;

“With a young family myself in Crawley, I know the economic challenges we face. The Government are helping creating the right conditions to help local people into work.

“The Employment Allowance, worth £2,000 off employers’ National Insurance contributions, has ensured that a third of employers nationally pay no jobs tax. I am pleased that the Prime Minister has confirmed the allowance will continue under a majority Conservative government – it has already benefited around 1,000 Crawley companies.

“I have assisted 5,000 constituents since being elected as Member of Parliament for Crawley, some of these people are examples of hard-working Crawley folk who want to do well for themselves and their families.

“With improving economic conditions, this Government has increased NHS spending by £12.7 billion since 2010 – we need a strong economy to pay for our public services.

“But it would all be put at risk with the chaos of Ed Miliband in Downing Street, being directed by the Scottish National Party. Hiking borrowing, hurting the economy, and costing jobs – we’ll be the ones who pay.

“Across the South East, there are 243,000 more people in work than in 2010. Across the country, the number of young people without a job has fallen by 151,000 in the last year.

“If I am given the honour of being re-elected as Member of Parliament for Crawley at the General Election on 7th May, I will continue to be Crawley’s voice in Westminster, not Westminster’s voice in Crawley.”