Reading West Labour candidate Naz Sarkar has welcomed the fact that the latest figures show fears of a rise in unemployment in Reading have not been realised.
"A year ago," he says, "4.1% of people of working age in Reading West were claiming JSA, it was 4.3% for a bit last summer, it's now 4.2%. I think this proves that what we've been saying about Reading being well-placed to weather the recession is true.
"But," he adds, "things are still fragile and the last thing we need is a Tory Government draining the life blood out of our economy with the cuts package they're planning and plotting for this June. Only today the IMF has reaffirmed its advice that Britain and other advanced countries should not call a halt to financial stimulus this year. If George Osborne becomes Chancellor and ignores that advice, we can expect unemployment to go through the roof."
And Reading East candidate Anneliese Dodds adds: "The story in Reading East is much the same. Unemployment twelve months ago was 3.4%, it was 3.7% for a bit, it's now back to 3.4%. What we need now is steady as she goes."
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