Home > News > Is Richard Benyon MP embracing “post-truth” politics?

Last month, Richard tweeted his delight at Newbury’s “powerhouse” economy. He asserted that the number of residents claiming jobseeker’s allowance had fallen by 20% in twelve months.

Ignoring the challenges of assuming fewer claimants means we are living in a “powerhouse” economy (zero-hours contracts anyone?), this was in contradiction to a recent Newbury Weekly News article which claimed unemployment had risen over the past twelve months.

Reviewing data released by the Office of National Statistics confirms the figures reported in the Newbury Weekly News.


Source: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/…/sub…/cc_time_series/report.aspx

Out-of-work benefit claimants rose from 480 in December 2015 to 590 in December 2016, an increase of 23%!

We have reached out to Richard to ask for an explanation, although the figures speak for themselves. Hopefully Newbury’s MP is not following Donald Trump and embracing “alternative facts”.

West Berkshire Green Party is committed to the truth, so we’re happy to update Mr Benyon’s tweet for him!