Farron welcomes major unemployment drop in South Lakes

Local MP Tim Farron has today welcomed the news that unemployment in the South Lakes has dropped by 13.4% this year.

Figures released by the government this morning show that the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency has the second lowest number of unemployment benefit claimants in the United Kingdom. 479 people are claiming benefits in our area which equates to 1.9% of the population.

Speaking this morning, Tim said: "This is great news. I think we have seen during the downturn that the community has pulled together and turned South Lakeland into a microclimate. Local businesses have supported their staff and made sure that they have looked after them - I want to take the opportunity to praise them for that far sighted approach.

"But we still need more well paid jobs in our community. Many of the jobs in our area are low paid and average wages are lower than most parts of the country so we need to attract businesses to our area to provide the jobs that will continue to push us forward. I am working hard with business to bring these jobs and I am pushing for a 'green business park' that will bring high skill and well paid manufacturing jobs to our area."