• Since entering office, Labour’s war on business has seen the tax burden reach record levels and strangling new regulations brought in, killing jobs and damaging growth.
• It comes as no surprise that the latest figures show unemployment at a four year high, real wage growth is falling, and the number of people on payroll has plummeted. That means more families struggling to pay the bills and more people signing on for benefits.
• With even more painful tax rises now inevitable in the autumn, things are set to get worse before they get better. One thing is clear: Labour isn’t working.

Dame Rebecca Harris has criticised the Labour Government for failing people in Castle Point after 648 more households signed onto Universal Credit since July 2024.

Since Labour entered office, Keir Starmer has talked down the economy and hit businesses with higher taxes and burdensome new regulation.

As a result, unemployment has jumped to 4.7 percent, its highest level in four years, real wage growth has fallen to just 1.1 per cent, and the number of people on payroll has plummeted by over 164,000 jobs since the Autumn Budget.

This means that means more families struggling to pay the bills and more people signing on for benefits, including 648 in Castle Point.

The last Conservative Government oversaw the number of people in work increase by over 4 million, the unemployment rate nearly halved from 8.0 per cent in 2010 to 4.2 per cent in June 2024, and real wages had growth for thirteen months in a row.

Commenting, Dame Rebecca said: "After Labour attacked businesses with higher taxes and more regulation, it was a sad inevitability that it would result in fewer opportunities here in Castle Point and more people signing onto Universal Credit.

“Only the Conservatives understand that it is the makers who create jobs and growth, not the Government. But with more tax rises coming this Autumn to pay for Labour’s failures, it is people and businesses in Castle Point who will be left paying the price.”

Commenting, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Helen Whately MP said: “Under Labour, unemployment has risen 10 months in a row, and over 1 million more people are on benefits. Labour promised good jobs but are just putting people on more benefits, paid for by ever higher taxes.

“Labour have always left office with more people out of work than when they found it. It’s no wonder business leaders are warning that all indicators are flashing red."