Unemployment has soared across Lewisham, with new government figures this week showing 62% more jobseekers in the borough last month compared with a year earlier.
Lewisham’s Green Party Group leader, Cllr Darren Johnson, said the worsening picture showed the need for a shake-up at Westminster, with money spent on job creation, housing and vital services instead of Trident and ID cards.
The new figures, show the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants in Lewisham has risen from 5,927 in August 2008 to 9,588 in August 2009 – a 62% rise.
The situation was worse in Lewisham East, up 66%, and in Lewisham Deptford, up 64%, where Green councillor Darren Johnson is campaigning to unseat MP Joan Ruddock at the general election.
Where 3.5% of Lewisham residents were claiming JSA last year, that figure has risen to 5.4% last month, or more than one in 20 people.
The figures only count JSA claimants, so the real unemployment figure will be higher still.
Lewisham Green Party Group leader, Cllr Darren Johnson, said:
"This worsening picture shows we urgently need a fresh approach at Westminster. Lewisham could make a real impact by electing its first Green MP. The Government is planning to waste billions on renewing Trident, introducing ID cards and building new roads. I want to see that money spent properly, creating vital new jobs in public transport, green energy, affordable housing and care for elderly people."
The breakdown of the latest National Statistics figures are as follows:
Claimant count:
Lew East Aug 2009 2695 / 5.1% of pop. Up 66%
Lew East Aug 2008 1619 / 3.2%
Lew West & Penge Aug 2009 3279 / 5.8%. Up 55%
Lew West & Penge Aug 2008 2114 / 3.7%
Lew Deptford Aug 2009 3614 / 5.5%. Up 64%
Lew Deptford Aug 2008 2194 / 3.6%
Lewisham as a whole:
Aug 2009 9588 / 5.4%. Up 62%
Aug 2008 5927 / 3.5%