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Anyone seen Dave? Or George? Or Iain? Or Chris?

February 15, 2012 3:55 pm

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This morning at 9.30am it was revealed that unemployment rose 47,000 in the last quarter of 2011 to 2.67m. The ONS also announced that youth unemployment for the period is up 0.3%, and the number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance has increased to 1.6m. You’d think that the Prime Minister or the Chancellor might have responded to this news. But unfortunately, just as they did last time unemployment figures were released in November, they’ve avoided them.

This time they’re joined by the Work and Pensions Secretary and the Employment minister – Iain Duncan-Smith and Chris Grayling.

This isn’t the first time the two top Tories have gone missing (especially Osborne), so we’ve set up a clock below to show you how long it is that they’ve been silent since the figures were released.

The PM has been doing his best to distract the media by talking about binge drinking – so he’s clearly in the UK and “hard at work”, but surely it’s time that he, the Chancellor – or either of the two ministers responsible – explain how they’re planning to tackle unemployment? Or even mention it? Until they do, we’ll be keeping the timer running…

Update: Cameron was spotted saying the government would do “everything they can” to help the unemployed last night. But still no sign of the others – let us know if you see them…

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  3. Has anyone seen George Osborne today?
  4. We face an unemployment emergency
  5. PMQs verdict: Desperate Dave and the Mystery Medic
  • Anonymous

    Much as I think the issue of binge drinking is incredibly important to tackle-
    I do wonder why today of all days this is announced?
    This should have been addressed years ago.

    Yesterday, wasn’t there a “summit” about car insurance?!

    I’ve noticed these headlines are rolled out as if totally unproblematic;
    often little reference to the big issues announced the day before?

    Why this constant rush to keep announcing various initiatives day after day,
    when actually- all the energy needs to be concentrated on the big salient
    issues- and show following through on process.

    It almost comes across as being seen to be doing something that is either
    high profile, or populist; especially at time when bad news is being announced
    via other sources?

    No wonder the public feel disillusioned with politics, if it can appear so shallow.
    Maybe this is how it works; but I’d say- focus on the big issues and stick with it;
    show real practical understanding, listen- and be prepared to adjust if necessary;
    bring far more people on board, and encourage cross party working on the
    insurmountable problems and issues.

    I also think these figures are extremely dire.

    It may be about a one track approach;
    as we saw in the 80′s- too much reliance on the private sector
    and finance; our manufacturing base has been eroded and neglected
    for about 30 years? So we’ve nothing to fall back on,
    little to generate growth or balance  the economy.
    Also the scale of job losses- eg in the public sector.
    The one size fits all approach is not working;
    we need to look to countries like Germany to understand
    why they have been far more successful.

    Thanks Mark.

    I think jobs and growth are surely the top priority-
    especially prospects for young people.

    Jo

  • Anonymous

    While you’re on the lookout for Dave, George, Iain and Chris can you also keep your eyes peeled for the Big Society? If anybody catches a glimpse of this chimera on the horizon can you let me know? Thanks.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-OConnor/100000837891021 Joe O’Connor

    Can people also keep an eye out for Treborc? He has also been uncharacteristically quiet about this issue.

    • treborc

      You have a  habit of the one liner then go, if your so bright tell us your view on the way to get unemployment down.

      To  get unemployment down you make Jobs you make employment, in the old days you upped your building of social housing, Schools and Hospitals, but with a PFI bill of £300 billion that’s not going to happen in the future, god knows the total bill for PFI  it could be as much as the debt we already have.

      That’s the problem the pot is empty you have people in employment who can work until the drop well over 60 which is taking away employment from our young.

      Drop VAT, well it would be a great idea if you say dropped to say 8% but  back to 17.5 is not going to do much because all the reatilers have already dropped the prices to well below that, and people are still not spending.

      The fact is we will only get out of this problem when we have a leader and a party the people believe knows what the hell he or she is talking about.

      When we get  hot because Ed wins two or three PMQ’s god help you, then he goes to speak  and you wonder what the hell did the Unions think they were doing.

      In all honesty if Thatcher was fifty now  and with her mind intact, we be voting her back in as the leader, because never in my whole life have I seen three leaders and the one in waiting being so bloody poor.

      We have a nation who spend it self out, it’s now decided after the fright to repay it’s debt, we have a country who went into massive debt with a leader who was unable to see the banking crises the financial mess the housing bubble the price of gold the  fiasco of his tax. God you could go on for weeks.

      I’ve been off air for a while , because the local Charity and the local council expert in computers cannot  get my speech writer to work with windows seven for some reason, so they will get me a New Dragon speech writer .
      So I’m  back to writing with a pointer attached to my hand, until they me me a new speech writer.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-OConnor/100000837891021 Joe O’Connor

        I am disappointed Treborc that you have turned a story which highlights the breathtaking complacency of the government in the face of mass unemployment into an attack on the Labour party leadership and a suggestion that we should vote for Thatcher.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-OConnor/100000837891021 Joe O’Connor

    Alan Giles has been silent about it as well

  • Bbenry2

    Downing street was also tweeting about it being one year since Larry the cat was put in post, with photos and everything.

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