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Friday, March 29, 2024

UK Faces Tsunami of Unemployment Under Tory Cuts

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The SNP has said the UK faces a “tsunami of unemployment” unless Boris Johnson U-turns on reckless Tory plans to scrap the furlough scheme in two weeks’ time.

Speaking at Prime Ministers Questions, Ian Blackford MP (pictured) quoted Scottish brewery and pub chain BrewDog owner James Watt, who yesterday warned “the end of the Job Retention Scheme will lead to a tsunami of unemployment” and urged the Prime Minister to reverse the planned Tory cuts to financial support for millions of workers.

The SNP Westminster Leader said “there are now just two weeks left to save people’s jobs and livelihoods” and warned “we are heading towards a Tory winter crisis of mass unemployment” if the Prime Minister refuses to do the right thing.

Yesterday, new analysis from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the UK unemployment rate grew to a three year high of 4.5% in the three months to August, compared with 4.1% in the previous quarter.

While redundancies have risen to their highest level since 2009.

The number of redundancies is expected to rise further if the Tories scrap the furlough scheme this month, with analysis from Citibank suggesting unemployment could hit 8.5% in the first half of 2021 – the highest level since the 1990s.

Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said:

“Yesterday, the founder of BrewDog warned – “the end of the Job Retention Scheme will lead to a tsunami of unemployment.”

“BrewDog is just one of thousands of businesses across Scotland and the UK demanding the Tory government U-turn on its reckless plans to scrap the furlough scheme.

“There are now just two weeks left to save people’s jobs and livelihoods.

“People don’t want to hear Boris Johnson’s boasting or excuses – they want action.

“Half-measures won’t cover it. Thousands have already lost their jobs.

“The ONS has confirmed the highest rate of redundancies since 2009.

“We are heading towards a Tory winter crisis of mass unemployment – if the Prime Minister refuses to act.

“We know what his Tory colleagues are saying.

“The Prime Minister’s next job could be on the backbenches – he just doesn’t know it yet.

“If the Prime Minister won’t U-turn on his plans to scrap furlough he will never be forgiven for the damage he will cause.”

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