Three parliamentary constituencies in Bradford are among the worst 100 in the UK for fastest rising unemployment rates, it was revealed yesterday.

And the growing number of jobless in the district and region flies in the face of the national downward trend.

Bradford’s jobless rate now stands at ten per cent with the latest figures showing 158 more people claiming JobSeekers Allowance (JSA) in the last month.

Unemployment is rising fastest in Bradford West, Bradford East and Bradford South.

Overall, the number of people in the Bradford district claiming JSA has increased from 19,898 in July to 20,056 in August. In Yorkshire and The Humber 272,000 are unemployed – an increase of 23,000 from May to July.

David Ward MP (Lib Dem, Bradford East), whose constituency is rated as the 11th worst out of 650 for rising unemployment, said that more needed to be done to boost manufacturing.

“We are seeing an overall reduction nationally but that has not been reflected in Bradford,” he said.

“I am very much involved in the Regional Growth Fund and it is absolutely crucial we do all we possibly can to generate jobs. It is the number one priority in Bradford.”

George Galloway MP (Respect, Bradford West) said: “I am reiterating what I have said for the last few months that this Government’s austerity programme is not working and it is hitting the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the city.”

Gerry Sutcliffe MP (Lab, Bradford South) said: “Long-term youth unemployment in my own constituency of Bradford South is up 860 per cent in the last year, but ministers still refuse to take decisive action.

“This Government has got to wake up to this crisis, they must take action now and they should start with Labour’s Real Jobs Guarantee and get our young people back to work.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for employment, skills and culture, said: “Here in Bradford we’re doing what we can to support people at this difficult time. The Council has committed £7.7 million to the Get Bradford Working programme, the largest local authority scheme of its kind in the country.”

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins and Shipley MP Philip Davies were unavailable for comment.