Portsmouth South’s Stephen Morgan MP has blasted “delayed and indecisive” Tory response and is calling on Government to adopt its plans for jobs support.
City MP, Stephen Morgan, is today urging the Government to adopt plans for reforming jobs support, as new analysis shows economic inactivity among over 50s has risen by four per cent in the South East and in every part of the country since the pandemic.
The new analysis shows that since the pandemic:
- Every part of the UK has seen a rise in the number of over 50s who are economically inactive, with an overall increase of 350,000 (11%).
- The South West has seen the largest overall increase of 16%, followed by the East Midlands, West Midlands and North West (all 15%).
- Economic inactivity among men over 50 has risen by nearly a quarter (23%) in the North West and West Midlands.
- Economic inactivity among women over 50 has risen by almost a fifth (17%) in the South West and 15% in the North East.
- 55,000 more men over 50 are economically inactive across the North of England.
- 50,000 more women over 50 are economically inactive across the South of England.
Labour’s reform plans will localise employment support, open up Jobcentres, target help to the over 50s, provide specialist support for those with ill health and make sure that work pays.
Jonathan Ashworth MP, the Shadow Secretary of State criticised the “delayed and indecisive Tory response” to economic inactivity, saying Ministers have been “slow to realise that inactivity is holding back economic growth – and even slower to act”.
Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“Everyone deserves proper help and support to move into work. But we know too many aren’t getting the help they need and the number of people out of work and not looking for work is up across our region.
“My constituents deserve a Labour government, which will be committed to delivering an employment support system that meets the needs of businesses and workers in Portsmouth and across the South East.
“Labour has a plan to get Britain working again. We will give more power and flexibility to local areas to run employment support services, and ensure that Jobcentres are open and accessible to all who would benefit from targeted, specialist help as part of our ambition to target the highest employment in the G7.”
Mr Morgan is keen to ensure that everyone has the support they need to return to the workplace. Taking action both locally and in Parliament, the city MP recently met with the JobCentre, Advice Portsmouth and relevant teams at Portsmouth City Council to support constituents in getting into work and to deal with the cost of living crisis.
