Recent statistics have shown a welcome decrease in the unemployment figures. Some commentators even have the downright audacity to suggest that it was a reflection on the Conservative Government's economic measures. In truth, previous investment in training and employment have produced results and have kept unemployment lower than it would have otherwise been in a completely free market. The Conservative policy of ending investment in training and work programmes, particularly for young people, has already begun huge damage to the well-being of this country and will continue to do so during this parliament.

The scale of the cuts facing The Ministry of Justice, revealed earlier this week, has provided a frightening insight of how widespread the public sector cull will be. Also, in view of the VAT increase, and other anti-enterprise measures taken by the coalition government, the likelihood of the private sector replacing the jobs lost in the public sector remains extremely low.

This does mean that unfortunately, unemployment will rise again in 2010, as the free market is at present unable to create the wealth required for investment in staff. The huge Government cuts will send the economy back into recession as there simply is not the appetite for growth amongst business, with a culture of consolidation and “austerity” which has been encouraged by the Government.