30 Million People In Work - as Unemployment Falls Again

Employment figures released on Wednesday, 18 December show that a record 30m people in the UK are in work and that unemployment has fallen yet again.

Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: "To have 30 million people in work is to pass another milestone on the long road to recovery. But it's only been possible because we have stuck to a sound economic plan and because of the hard work of the British people and of the British business community."

He continued: "We've had to take difficult decisions, but these 30 million jobs are a sign that we are on the right path. We're continuing to do all we can to embed the recovery. Only a couple of weeks ago we announced a huge £375 billion investment plan for infrastructure, we're cutting taxes for 24 million working people and we're continuing to invest in apprenticeships.

"As the senior Lib Dem in the Treasury, I can assure you that this simply wouldn't be happening without the Liberal Democrats in Government. We can all be proud of this progress.

"Cleaning up Labour's mess is a huge challenge, and it was never going to be easy. However without the Lib Dems in Government things would be very different.

"Without active involvement in government, the economy would not have been rescued. We have created 1.5 million apprenticeships, cut taxes for millions of working people, invested £5.5billion in new high-tech/green jobs and set up the Regional Growth Fund to ensure the recovery is spread right across the UK, not just focussed in the South East.

"Day by day, we are creating the stronger economy in a fairer society that this country needs to give everyone the best chance to get on in life."