This template release is for Conservative facing seats calling on the Chancellor to step up support in light of the recent unemployment figures.
Dear all,
Please see a template release below for Conservative facing seats calling on the Chancellor to step up support in light of the recent unemployment figures.
The table linked in notes to editors below shows the number of Universal Credit claimants by UK Parliamentary Constituency. The relevant figures are in the highlighted columns - column E and column I. Column E shows the number of people in each constituency that are claiming Universal Credit.
Column I shows what percentage of the constituency's working-age population is claiming Universal Credit.
Lib Dems urge [INSERT MP] to join calls for Chancellor to roll out more financial support
The Liberal Democrats have condemned the Chancellor for failing to introduce a comprehensive plan to save jobs after it was revealed that [INSERT NUMBER] of people in [INSERT AREA] are currently on Universal Credit.
Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine criticised Rishi Sunak's "constant chop-and-change approach", urging him to put in place a proper plan to protect jobs as the Government still struggles to get a grip over rising cases of coronavirus. The figures revealed that [INSERT PERCENTAGE] of people of working age in [INSERT AREA] are on Universal Credit.
Following this, Liberal Democrats urged local Conservative MP [INSERT MP] to join their calls for the Chancellor to ensure the furlough scheme remains in place until at least June 2021, as well as overturning their decision to ignore the 3 million individuals still locked out of any Government coronavirus support schemes.
This follows the Liberal Democrats' call for the Prime Minister to negotiate a 6 month Adjustment Period for businesses, giving them crucial breathing space once the UK leaves the transition period.
Liberal Democrat spokesperson [INSERT NAME] for [INSERT AREA] added:
"These unemployment figures reveal just how many people in [INSERT AREA] have been let down by this Conservative Government. Too many families will be worrying about how they're going to put food on the table this Christmas thanks to Rishi Sunak's failure to keep his promise that no-one would be left behind.
"That is why the Liberal Democrats have urged [INSERT MP] to join us in urging the Chancellor to roll out more support for people in [INSERT AREA]. Unfortunately the pandemic is far from over and it is crucial we see the Government step up to support the most vulnerable in the coming months."
Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:
"The Chancellor's constant chop-and-change approach to the furlough scheme and his inability to put together a comprehensive plan to save jobs is taking a huge toll.
"The Government must ensure furlough stays in place until at least June – and extend support to the three million people who still remain excluded from any support whatsoever. Just as crucially, Ministers must ensure there is an Adjustment Period for businesses before new trade rules begin, to avoid a second spike in redundancies."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The claimant number (and percentage) includes both those working with low income or hours and those who are not working.
The claimant count consists of the following groups:
- Those on Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- UC claimants that were recorded as "not in employment" (May 2013-April 2015).
- Those claimants of UC who are required to search for work, i.e. are within the "Searching for Work" conditionality regime as defined by the Department for Work & Pensions (from April 2015 onwards).
The link to the Table with the unemployment figures is here: UC claimants by constituency Nov 2020
