A LABOUR councillor has criticised Basildon Council after figures showing that almost one in five households in Basildon have no one in employment.

Gavin Gallaghan, Pitsea North West councillor, slammed the authority and the Government following the latest numbers on workless households in the borough, which are the highest they have been since 2004.

The figure shot up last year to about 12,000 – 19.1 per cent of Basildon’s total homes.

He said: “In Pitsea North West, we have seven jobseekers for every one vacancy. Don’t stigmatise every person on benefits by referring to them as ‘scroungers’, ‘shirkers’ or ‘lazy’, but look at the logistical issues facing every jobseeker.

“Raising VAT to 20 per cent is an integral part of why 33,000 businesses in Britain have gone bankrupt since May 2010 and why high streets like Basildon are in decline.”