Dundee Liberal Democrats back calls for "decisive action" to tackle unemployment (Dundee Liberal Democrats)

Dundee Liberal Democrats <info@dundeelibdems.org.uk>

Dundee Liberal Democrats back calls for "decisive action" to tackle unemployment

March 21, 2009 7:00 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Sir Menzies Campbell QC MP

Dundee LibDems today (Saturday 21st March) backed calls by Sir Menzies Campbell MP, who has called for "decisive action" to be taken to tackle job losses in light of the recent figures which show unemployment in Scotland has risen by 1,000 to 135,000 and the UK wide figure breaching 2 million.

Sir Menzies said, "With the UK facing the worst recession for decades we need decisive action to tackle job losses.

"We can create 100,000 jobs if the Government scrapped this year's £12.5 billion VAT give-away which costs £350 every second of every minute of every hour. It is a colossal waste of money borrowed in our name.

"This money could have laid the foundations for a new green economy and provided 40,000 extra zero-carbon social homes and the insulation of 2 million houses. We could have invested in renewable energy and helped the growth of under developed industry."

"Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament were right to insist on a Finance Sector Jobs Taskforce for Scotland."

Here in Dundee, City Council LibDem Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, added, "The Finance Sector Jobs Taskforce is vital to ensure all is done to help the jobs situation in Scotland.

"It is vital that the Scottish Government and all in the Scottish Parliament do their upmost to take the decisive action to tackle unemployment that Sir Menzies has called for."