NORTH East leaders have called on the Chancellor to address the growing unemployment situation and extend furlough, ahead of Wednesday's Budget.
Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham has called on the Chancellor to urgently address the 'dire situation' of growing unemployment in his constituency.
Newly released claimant figures from the House of Commons Library shows that there are now 4,510 people claiming unemployment related benefits in Stockton North – an increase of 1,465 compared to the same period in 2020.
This amounts to 7.9 per cent of 16 to 64 year olds in the constituency – 1.5 per cent higher than the UK equivalent claimant rate.
Of these 975 are aged 18 to 24 – a rise of 340 on January 2020.