Just the job!
March 2006

Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs visiting the Waterloo Job shop

A senior Government Minister visited Lambeth this Wednesday and gave his strong support to Lambeth Labour Councillors’ plans to boost jobs and the local economy. Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs, gave his support whilst visiting the Waterloo Job Shop, part of the South Bank Employers Group. The Waterloo Job shop provides training and skills to help local people to gain employment.

Should Labour gain control of the council at the forthcoming local elections, Labour councillors have committed to:

• Support local shops and halt Lib Dem plans to sell them off or close them down
• Partner local business to create new jobs
• Work with local colleges to create new training places to help those looking for work or who need to update their job skills

Labour believes that the Council needs to do more to boost jobs, training and support local business and the voluntary sector. As well as more job opportunities, Labour will work with the Mayor of London towards meeting his targets for affordable housing for key workers and others who want a chance to buy or rent their own home.

Over the last four years of Liberal Democrat and Conservative control, the council has sold off local shops to developers and been slammed by inspectors for failing to work properly with the Council’s key partners.

Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs, said:

“The local council is a key element in any successful local economy. A council that spends money on services from local businesses or works closely with schools and colleges to develop skills, is a council that can make a difference.”

“Lambeth is a borough which should be championing these kinds of practices and I am delighted that Labour councillors have made these pledges to support the local economy. “

Cllr Dan Sabbagh, Lead Finance Spokesperson for Lambeth’s Labour Opposition said:

"Lambeth’s Labour councillors are passionate about improving the life chances of local people. One of the most important ways of doing this is by boosting jobs and skills in the local economy.

“The difference between us and the Lib Dems is that we have will drive through changes which will benefit local people. For the past four years they have simply sat on their hands.”

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