'No room for complacency on unemployment' - Kevin Lang

10.24.02am GMT Fri 22nd Jan 2010

Local Lib Dem Kevin Lang believes the Government should not be complacent on unemployment figures.

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed new figures showing a slight fall in unemployment in Edinburgh North & Leith but have warned against complacency, particularly over the numbers of young people out of work.

Latest national figures on the numbers of jobless has shown that whilst unemployment across Scotland as a whole has continued to rise, the numbers of jobless in Edinburgh North & Leith decreased slightly from 4,400 to 4,300 over the last three months.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith, Kevin Lang said:

"It is good to see that after significant increases in unemployment in Edinburgh North & Leith, the number of jobless has decreased slightly over the last three months. However, these figures will be of little comfort for those who have lost their jobs and continue to struggle to find new employment. There is also still a major problem of unemployment amongst young people, who seem to be bearing the brunt of Labour's recession.

"There is simply no room for complacency. If you believed Gordon Brown at Prime Minister's Questions this week, you would think the whole problem had been solved. His insensitivity to those Scots still facing unemployment is simply staggering.

"Only the Liberal Democrats will provide the investment in jobs and young people we need in Edinburgh North & Leith to build a fairer, stronger economy."