The North West lost public sector jobs at a staggering three times the rate that London did over the course of the last parliament.
Figures released this week show that between 2010 and 2015 public sector employment in the North West fell by 9.4%, whilst over the same period of time in London it fell by a more modest 3%.
The TUC (National Trade Union Centre) has said that the findings highlight how austerity has had an unequal impact on UK regions.
Lynn Collins, TUC North West Regional Secretary said: “While public services across Britain are under pressure from extreme cuts, it’s clear from these figures that the North West has been hit very hard by austerity.”
The figures revealed that the North West as a whole had lost around 61,000 public sector jobs since 2010 as councils across the region – including the 10 Greater Manchester authorities – were forced to tighten their belts due to cuts to Government grant settlements.
Ms Collins said the promise of the north becoming a ‘powerhouse’ – which would see more powers devolved to regions – would fail if cuts continued at the pace they are.
She said: “We’ve suffered a higher rate of public sector jobs losses than most of the country. By contrast, more prosperous parts of the UK have seen public sector employment fall at a much slower rate.
“The Chancellor’s promise of creating a northern powerhouse will feel like empty rhetoric to many in the North West.
“Devolving power to the regions will fail if they are starved of the vital public investment they need for modern infrastructure and services.
“With even more severe spending cuts around the corner, the strain on services and communities is only going to get worse.”
“With even more severe spending cuts around the corner, the strain on services and communities is only going to get worse.”
Greater Manchester has already been granted devolved powers in exchange for the region having a Boris Johnson-style elected mayor.
Plans to devolve power over policing, skills, housing, transport and the highly publicised £6billion health and social care budget will all come into play following the mayoral elections scheduled for 2017.
Picture courtesy of Max G, with thanks.
