Councils' job loss tally tops over 125,000

More than 2,000 jobs are to be cut at three Conservative-controlled county councils in a bid to make multimillion-pound savings.

About 1,200 jobs are set to be axed at Hampshire County Council under plans to save £55 million for 2011-12. It blamed the cuts on a £30.9 million (14.3%) reduction in its government grant.

Meanwhile, Norfolk County Council said it would axe about 1,000 jobs in the next year and East Sussex County Council has revealed plans to shed up to 200 jobs.

The loss of 178 jobs at the Conservative-controlled Southend Council, Essex added to the latest council job loss count as tracked by the GMB general union. It now stands at just under 126,000 jobs at 165 councils.

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said, “The government is in denial that it is deliberately creating unemployment, but the fact is that it is driving up the level of unemployment.”

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12223558

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/latest_news/125894_job_losses_at_165_coun.aspx