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Six hundred thousand fewer people at work than at the start of the pandemic

The Prime Minister claims there are more people working now than there were at the start of the pandemic, but statistics show that is not correct.

A chorus of critics have slammed the Prime Minister for citing false information in Parliament, including an employment expert referencing Office for National Statistics (ONS) data and the MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, Justin Madders, Shadow Labor Rights Minister.

Mr Madders complained about inaccurate employment statistics in a point of order in the House of Commons.

Speaking to Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing, the Labor MP asked: ‘Are you aware of a letter from the UK Statistics Authority to the Director of Data Science at 10 Downing Street regarding the claims of the Prime minister that there are more people working now than there were at the start of the pandemic?

“In the letter, the UK Statistics Authority points out that this claim is incorrect and that there are in fact 600,000 fewer people in work than at the start of the pandemic.”

Mr Madders added: ‘I am aware of what was said by the President earlier and that accusations of deception do not improve the reputation of this place, but this claim was made by the Prime Minister on November 24 , December 15, January 5, January 12, January 19 and again today (February 2).

“I believe the public has a right to expect the Prime Minister to tell the dispatch box to be truthful and accurate. Have you received notification of an intention by the Prime Minister to correct the record? “

Ed Humpherson, director of the Office for Statistics Regulation, in a letter to 10 Downing Street, said: “The ONS publishes data on the number of people in employment.

“Data from January to March 2020 estimates that 33.0 million people were employed compared to 32.4 million people employed for September to November 2021.

“It is therefore incorrect to say that there were more people working at the end of this period than at the beginning.”

MP Eleanor Laing told the House that Mr Madders was ‘absolutely right that it is important that statements made in the House are absolutely correct and true’.

She added: “As the president has said many times since the presidency, and as those of us who occupy the presidency have repeated, the veracity or not of the statistics and the interpretation of the statistics is the the very essence of political discourse and debate.”

But she said Mr Madders was right to ask questions and told the House: ‘I am quite sure he will find a way to put these questions directly to ministers… and if a mistake has been made inadvertent, I’m sure those on the treasury bench will take note of the points raised…and his request for reconsideration of the matter will be forwarded to the appropriate minister.

“There is of course a system for correcting errors and misstatements, which ministers and others can use if necessary.”

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP told MPs: “I remind the House that I am not responsible for MPs’ contributions and will seek not to intervene unless something is said out of order. “

He added: “I want to see more compassionate and reasonable politics in this House…I want a nicer Parliament and the only way to get a nicer Parliament is to be more honorable in the debates we have.

“Please let us show respect and tolerance in the future.”

This was especially the case, said Sir Lindsay, “given Erskine May’s advice [often referred to as ‘the Bible of parliamentary procedure’] that good humor and moderation are the hallmarks of parliamentary debate.”

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