Lib Dems Shift Blame For Underemployment To WAG.

You may well think that Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrot may have a point in her article at  Subordinate Central  when she  points out that Labour are in Government here and must take some responsibility   for the increase in  underemployment in Wales.

As she rights

Comments by Labour politicians that the coalition government is responsible for Wales having the biggest increase in “underemployment” are astonishing.Jobs and economic growth in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Government. Once again, Labour in Wales are blaming the coalition government for their own inadequacies.August’s labour market statistics showed that while the number of jobs increased in eight of the eleven regions of the United Kingdom between December 2012 and March 2013, Wales saw a fall of around 30,000 jobs, increasing underemployment by 1.9%.The Welsh Labour Government needs to take action. It must push forward with the much needed Enterprise Zones and start creating more jobs now. The Liberal Democrats are working hard in government to build a stronger economy and a fairer society. By launching our One Million Jobs campaign, we have helped deliver 1.2m apprenticeships and 110,000 work placements for young people out of work, despite the terrible economic mess Labour left behind. But we know there is much more to do.We now need to see the Welsh Labour Government also go further and fund a programme to make businesses and young people aware of the benefits of apprenticeships and simplify the application and support processes to remove the practical barriers that are currently all too apparent.

But surely even the most loyal Liberal Democrat must admit that although Jobs and economic growth are devolved here it is largely the policies in London that effect such issues?

Just as branch manager of a company can make an  important contribution to the success of that branch. Their scope is limited by the policies of their Head Office.

And the same is true of devolution . It is the UK government austerity  policies that are the greatest influence that are the biggest influence on employment here in Wales.

It still the case that when London catches a cold, Wales gets pneumonia .

Ms Parrot is right that the Labour government in Cardiff  should an can do better but to attempt to shift blame to the Assembly for the underemployment in Wales when it is underfunded and does not have the real powers it needs, farcical ,

Ms Parrot  may come up with Liberal Democrats statistics but those who see the reality in the jobs being advertised the of which are increasingly under 30 hours a week take it with a pinch of salt.  

The Liberal Democrats to claim that this is not a direct result of their austerity programme  which they are as responsible for as their Tory partners.