Stourbridge MP Margot James refuses to support students' campaign against youth unemployment

date: 7 September 2012

embargo: immediate release

Stourbridge MP Margot James refuses to support students' campaign against youth unemployment

The TUC has criticised the decision of Stourbridge MP Margot James yesterday to ignore calls by students at Stourbridge and King Edwards College for her to support measures designed to address the crisis of youth unemployment.

The Charter for a Future That Works, which has been launched by the TUC in the Midlands, calls upon the government, employers, colleges and others to take urgent action tackle the unemployment crisis facing young people in the Black Country. Recent statistics show that the JSA claimant rate for young people in Stourbridge has shot up by 7.7% in the past year to 1 in 10 people, double the national average.

This week over 125 local students at two of Stourbridge's major colleges signed a petition calling on their local MP to support the Charter however, to the disappointment of the students who signed the petition and many more of their friends and fellow students, Margot James refused. This is despite the fact that a number of other local Black Country MPs have signed the Charter; these include Ian Austin (Dudley North), Emma Reynolds (Wolverhampton East) and David Winnick (Walsall North).

Rob Johnston, Regional Secretary of Midlands TUC, said:

'It is extremely disappointing that Margot James has decided to ignore pleas from students in her constituency for her to take action on youth unemployment.

'It seems that all Margot James is prepared to offer her young constituents is the bitter pill of continued austerity and long term unemployment. The TUC calls on her to join employers, unions and others in the Black Country to take real action now so that we can give our young people a future that works.'

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Rosa Crawford T: 0121 262 6381 M: 07766820158 E: rcrawford@tuc.org.uk;

Zoe Parish T: 0121 262 6396 M: 07786515897 E: zparish@tuc.org.uk;

Rob Johnston, T: 0121 262 6383; M: 07879 497 291;E: rjohnston@tuc.org.uk;

Alan Weaver, T: 0121 262 6383; M: 07771 778 694; E: aweaver@tuc.org.uk