Matthew has welcomed the news that employment across the UK has reached its highest rate since records began and that unemployment remains at its lowest level for 11 years – down over 900,000 since 2010.

It’s also good news in London where 727,000 more people are back in work in since 2010. In Hendon, the number of people claiming the key out of work benefits has fallen by 1,325 – a 49% drop – since 2010.

Today’s figures also show wages continuing to grow, youth unemployment rate at its lowest since 2005, the rate of women in employment at a record high, and the number of disabled people in work up by nearly 600,000 over the past three years.

Matthew said: “This is great news for the country and for local people, with the number of people in Hendon who rely on the key out of work benefits down 49 per cent since 2010, while the employment level nationwide has hit a record high.

It shows that our on-going welfare reforms are working – continuing to make work pay and making sure the system is fair to both those who need it and those who pay for it.

The Government has made real progress, creating a strong economy and helping people into work, and we will continue that work as we build a country that works for everyone.”

Matthew is pictured discussing local jobs at Hendon Jobcentre.