UNEMPLOYMENT in a Flintshire constituency has broken the 1,100 mark and is above the national average.

David Hanson, MP for Delyn, has criticised the fact that 1,115 are unemployed in his constituency as of October.

This represents a rate of 3.4% of the economically active population aged 16-64.

The equivalent UK claimant rate was 2.9%. The UK unemployment rate, which includes people not claiming benefits and is estimated from survey data, was 4.1% in July to September 2018.

The number of claimants in Delyn constituency is 310 higher than October 2017 and 20 higher than September 2018.

There were 255 claimants aged 18-24 in October 2018, 65 higher than October 2017.

David Hanson MP said: ''To see unemployment in Delyn pass the 1,100 barrier should be a wake-up call for the UK Government. They need to take action now to support our businesses and communities after the fourth consecutive month increase in unemployment.

''We are now seeing unemployment grow nationally – up 21,000 from the last figures released – showing that the economy is weak and that the UK Government’s policies are not working.

''But this goes much further than just unemployment figures. Many people would have seen the Panorama programme about Universal Credit on the BBC recently, which was filmed in Flintshire. It showed case after case of people trying to do the right thing and get work or hold on to the job they already have.

''But in each case people were falling behind on their rent because the in-work support Universal Credit is supposed to give them was lacking. Everyone deserves a decent quality of life and the harsh reality of Universal Credit is it is taking that away from people.

''There have been numerous opportunities for the UK Government to make the policy changes needed to help North Wales, but at each opportunity they have declined and instead lent more support to South East England.''