A TOTTENHAM politician has hit out at the Government after unemployment figures rose again in the borough.

Figures released yesterday show a ten per cent rise in people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the last year – up to a total of 10,514 in June.

And David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, said that the number did not come as a surprise to him, but called on the Government to make the east of the borough into an Enterprise Zone.

He said: “This government has taken an axe to jobs in the public sector with no growth in private sector to replace the jobs they destroyed. They talk up the benefits of their work programme when they’ve made no effort to create the jobs to go with it.

“In a couple of weeks, the government will have a choice – it can designate Tottenham as an enterprise zone. It can do what it can to mitigate for the economic whirlwind it has beset upon Tottenham.”

The zones – first introduced in March's budget – have up to 100 per cent discounts on business rates, free fast broadband, and relaxed planning restrictions, and are designed for major urban renewal schemes.

Tottenham missed out on the first ten successful applications made in March, but 11 more are due to be announced this summer.