More than 5,000 people across Bradford will be forced on to the dole as a result of the Government’s Budget, according to House of Commons information.
The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates the impact of the Budget will see 610,000 public sector jobs go over the next six years.
Figures obtained by Labour’s David Miliband from the House of Commons library, based on Office for National Statistics figures from the Budget, estimate that would be 5,126 additional people on the dole across Bradford – taking dole queues up to 25,426.
Labour leadership hopeful Mr Miliband said: “The immediate effect of the Budget will be to force over 600,000 workers into unemployment. With recent surveys suggesting rapidly worsening business confidence with no evidence of an emerging hiring spree, their prospects of finding work in the private sector are bleak.
“The Tories haven’t learnt the lessons of the 1980s when whole communities were destroyed by rising unemployment.”
Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, said it was clear Mr Miliband and the previous Government had left office with borrowing at unsustainable levels and with a private sector that was not generating enough wealth to pay for a public sector which was “far too big.”
Mr Davies said: “We need a higher proportion of the economy in the private sector and a lower proportion in the public sector. If we carry on the way we’re going, we are going to be bust.”
Gerry Sutcliffe, Labour MP for Bradford South, said: “Mr Cameron and his Cabinet came to Bradford and spoke of the need for Bradford to be helped out. But since then, they have come out with announcement after announcement that has been a blow to us.”
David Ward, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bradford East, said: “David Miliband is only giving half the budget projection. Although there will be a reduction in the public sector, it will be more than compensated for by an increase in jobs in the private sector.”
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