Kitcher - "Labour to blame for rise in Merthyr and Rhymney jobless"

4.13.00pm GMT Mon 8th Feb 2010

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney there are currently 21 job seekers for every vacancy advertised with the local Job Centre Plus.

Between 1999 and the start of the recession the figure never climbed above 5 job seekers per vacancy, but now at 21 per vacancy it stands as the 3rd highest in Wales.

In places like Ponty, Caerphilly and Cardiff the ratio is an average of just 6 job seekers per vacancy.

Parliamentary spokesperson Amy Kitcher said, "These figures are appalling. The last 13 years of Labour control at UK, Welsh and local level should have been a dream ticket for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. Our area has loyally returned Labour MPs for decades but it's clear from these figures that Labour just keep taking us for granted.

"We've lost companies like Hoover, which closed with the loss of hundreds of jobs. The government should have been hard at work getting new businesses and industries in to the valleys throughout the 'boom' years but instead Labour were asleep at the wheel. We've been left to fend for ourselves yet again.

"It's about time Merthyr and Rhymney had an MP who put local people first."