Plaid leader responds to unemployment figures

Responding to today’s unemployment figures, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said:

“I am appalled by the news that with 8000 more unemployed, Wales has the highest rise in unemployment of any country or region in the UK.

“Wales is responsible for the entire increase in UK unemployment. Compare this with Scotland, where unemployment has actually gone down.

“This is dreadful news, especially with the UK on the verge of a triple-dip recession, and my feelings are with the many families who are suffering as a result of this.

“Wales now has 50,000 more people unemployed than before the financial crisis began, and we have had the biggest drop in living standards and real wages in the UK.

“Austerity is costing us more than £450m of investment in Wales each year, much of which could be reversed if we had a fairer needs-based funding formula, scrapping the outdated Barnett Formula.

“Plaid Cymru would start a comprehensive job-creation programme in Wales through a Green New Deal, better public procurement, bringing forward shovel ready projects and using a new Bank of Wales to invest and support the private sector.”