Mary backs Labour's plan for jobs and growth

Wakefield MP and Shadow Environment Secretary, Mary Creagh, backed Labour's 5 point plan for growth on 13 October. Labour leader Ed Miliband and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls have set out a detailed alternative to the Tory-led government's reckless cuts which go too far, too fast.

Labour's plan to get the economy moving again now includes:

* A national insurance holiday for small firms taking on extra workers

* A bank bonus tax to get young people back to work and build more affordable homes

* Bring forward long investment projects

* A temporary reversing last year's VAT rise

* A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements

Mary said "The Tory-led government’s reckless economic plan is failing. We have seen no growth in our economy since last autumn because of their tax rises and spending cuts that are too far, too fast. The government has created a jobs and growth crisis which has squeezed people’s living standards, crushed confidence, and choked off the economic recovery. George Osborne needs to stop digging and come up with a Plan B urgently".

“Unemployment in Wakefield district has risen by14% in the last year. Women’s unemployment is up a staggering 29%, and youth unemployment is up by 18%, which could lead to a lost generation of young people. Unemployment is soaring, and more young people are out of work than ever before. The government has no plan to tackle this jobs crisis. Labour's 5 point plan for jobs and growth would get Wakefield moving again. But this week the Tories voted against our plan to give tax breaks for small businesses taking on extra workers, a temporary VAT cut which would give families a boost of around £450, and a tax on bank bonuses to fund 100,000 new jobs for young people.”

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