Nick Smith MP has attacked the Government for letting down Blaenau Gwent after the latest unemployment figures were revealed.

The latest Jobseekers Allowance figures have shown that despite the claims from the Tory Government that the recovery is well underway, 420 people over the age of 25 are still claiming JSA more than two years after being made unemployed.

The Blaenau Gwent MP has been doing his bit to try to reverse the trend, backing the Blaenau Gwent Work Experience Programme to help youngsters get a much needed foot on the ladder.

However, Mr Smith said without a Government willing to face up to the problem, people are being denied the chance to get back into work.

“Here in Blaenau Gwent long term unemployment is still unacceptably high and 120 young people have been out of work for a year or more.  This government is still letting down our area”, he said.

“We urgently need action to get local people into work. This is why Labour is calling for a compulsory jobs guarantee, which will get any adult out of work for more than two years, or young person out of work for a year, into a job -; one they would be required to take.

“Blaenau Gwent can’t wait any longer for action. Ministers must get off their hands and start helping now before they condemn a whole generation to joblessness.”

In Wales employment has increased by 4,000 on the previous quarter, but unemployment has increased even further – by 9,000 on the previous quarter, currently standing at 103,000.