Leeds MP Welcomes Shorter Dole Queues

John Battle, Labour MP for Leeds West, welcomed the latest fall in unemployment.

“One thousand fewer people in Leeds are on the dole now than a year ago,” said Mr Battle, “I’m very glad.”

“Unemployment was just over 1,350,000 nationally when Labour came to power, and 2,881 in my own constituency. But the national figure is now well under a million people, and down to 1,885 in Leeds West.”

“I am proud that we have made such a difference in five years, but we need to keep going towards full employment,” added Mr Battle.

The new figures were released on the day of the budget by the Office of National Statistics.