LABOUR’S FIVE POINT PLAN FOR JOBS AND GROWTH LAUNCHED IN DUDLEY

Dudley MP Ian Austin welcomed Shadow DWP Secretary Liam Byrne to Dudley yesterday morning as part of the national launch of Labour’s five point plan for jobs and growth.

They visited Revolvo on Blowers Green Road; the UK’s leading manufacturer of large bearings. Austin and Byrne were shown round by the company’s Managing Director Nick Dent who explained how despite difficult market conditions the company is continuing to increase its exports, with recent investment in advanced CNC technology leading the company to secure a £1 million contract to provide split roller bearings to India's largest steel producer, Jindal Steel and Power.

Labour’s plan comes amidst growing evidence that the Government’s economic policies are choking off growth and costing jobs. Recent figures show that in the West Midlands unemployment rose by 8,000 to 234,000 in the previous quarter while nationally unemployment is at a 17 year high with 2.57 million people now out of work. In Dudley the number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance has gone up by 12% in the last twelve months and by 42% since 2006.

Labour’s plan consists of five proposals to tackle unemployment, deal with the deficit and get people back to work.

Speaking at the Revolvo site yesterday, Liam Byrne MP said:

"I was delighted to visit Revolvo today and see a great West Midlands manufacturing firm leading the world from their HQ right here in Dudley. If we are going to get our economy back on track we need to create the conditions for more companies like Revolvo to thrive.

"We all know times are tough, unemployment is soaring,  youth unemployment is almost a million, and the economy has flat-lined now for nine months. Yet this government has still got no plan to get growth into our economy and create jobs.

"Labour's Five Point Plan for Jobs and Growth, which I launched at Revolvo in Dudley today, would create over 8,500 jobs for young people in the West Midlands and help 170,000 small firms like Restart create jobs and bring on new staff."

Ian Austin MP added:

“The Black Country is famous for its manufacturing past, but we should be proud of the high-tech firms who are based here today. Revolvo in Blowers Green Road are a world beating company who are doing  a brilliant job in creating skilled jobs and supporting the local economy. Labour’s plan for growth aims to support businesses like Revolvo by offering a national insurance tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers – helping them to grow and create jobs.

“Labour’s plan will get our economy moving again and help get the deficit down in a steadier and more balanced way.”