Londonwide Assembly Member Murad Qureshi AM is calling on Boris Johnson to urgently tackle rising unemployment in London. Figures released on Wednesday show that London is one of only three regions in the UK which has seen an increase in the number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance, despite the biggest fall in unemployment for over a decade elsewhere in the UK.

In Hounslow long-term unemployment for those aged over 25 has risen by 102%, from 480 [November 2011] to 970 [November 2012].

Unemployment for people over 50, who have been claiming Job Seekers' Allowance for over six months has also gone up 8%, from 360 to 390 over the same period.

The latest figures reveal long-term unemployment (aged 25 and over) has risen in the capital from 42,080 to 56,930 from November 2011 to November 2012.

In response to the latest figures Londonwide Assembly Member Murad Qureshi AM has called for the government and Mayor Boris Johnson to use all their powers to get Londoners back to work.

He said,"It is extremely worryinDecember 19, 2012w and across the whole of London. The mayor keeps talking about job creation but he needs to do more then just talk about it and actually use his powers to tackle this growing crisis and deliver jobs for Londoners who have been out of work for over a year.

"Unemployment has also gone up for Londoners who are over 50 in Hounslow. The Mayor needs to take this extremely seriously as these people will be struggling with the increase in cost of fares, rent, food and fuel bills.

"The government is cutting welfare payments and refusing to take into account the cost of living in London so it will be unemployed Londoners, searching for jobs who will be badly affected."

December 18, 2012