AFTER weeks of concern the cold hard truth about job losses has emerged and it's grim news for the Forest. Nearly 42,000 jobs are under threat in the South West.

This is more than a dry statistic. Behind every job loss is a livelihood lost, a mortgage at risk and family struggling to make ends meet.

The Government have rejected a sensible, balanced approach to economic policy. And don't just take our word for it. Independent experts and institutions are now predicting lower growth, more jobs lost and higher unemployment as a result of these plans.

Without growth it's impossible to get the deficit down. If the Government throws people out of work it costs us all more. According to Government's own figures, for every extra 100,000 people claiming jobseekers allowance, the Government needs to spend £400 million on their benefits.

So their strategy is not only unfair, it will cost more money and cost people their livelihoods. What the Government has confirmed is that it will put jobs at risk and take more money off children than it does off the banks. That can't be right.

The Government say these cuts are unavoidable and fair. The truth is different. How can it be right that this week the Government took over £3 billion from Child Benefit and Tax Credits, while their bank levy raises £2.4 billion. Their choice was to hit Britain's families harder than Britain's banks.

This is their choice of how to deal with the deficit. Half a million public sector jobs to go in the years ahead, and at least the same number at risk in the private sector.

As the opposition Labour will make your concerns heard loud and clear. We will keep up the pressure for a different approach, and work to keep people in their jobs and homes.

Labour believes to get the deficit down our starting point must be jobs, keeping people in work and contributing to our economy. We want to see growth maintained and people in work.

Before it's too late the Government should think again. They are gambling with people's jobs and futures and the people of the Forest deserve better.

Baroness Royall

Blaisdon

Shadow leader of the House of Lords