The MP for Dover has praised a rise in minimum wage and reduction in youth unemployment in Dover.

However, new figures from the Office for National Statistics highlights the proportion of jobs paying less than the living wage in Dover is 22.6%.

This is above the national average of 21.7% but MP for Dover Charlie Elphicke says workers are better off than they were before.

Labour MP John Denham said: “In large swathes of southern and eastern England, the percentage working for less than a living wage is higher than the UK average.

“The Labour southern taskforce research found the worst affected villages, towns and cities all have Tory and Lib Dem MPs, who have failed to promote any effective policies to back the living wage.”

However, Mr Elphicke says Labour crashed the economy, put thousands locally out of work and wrecked pay packets. He added: “They are like arsonists complaining the fire is not being put out quickly enough.

“Hopelessly out of touch, they have no ideas for the future.

“We raised the minimum wage to £6.50 in October.

“Our plans will see the minimum wage rise faster than under Labour. A record number of people went to work this morning and full time workers in Dover and Deal are now seeing real wage rises. Britain is on the road to recovery.”

Mr Elphicke says Labour has pledged to increase the minimum wage to £8 an hour by 2020, but current projections would see it rising to £8.23 by 2020.

Figures released in November by the Office for National Statistics showed that full-time wages for people living in Dover and Deal had risen over the past year from £530.6 per week in 2013 to £538.30 in 2014 and unemployment was falling sharply.

Mr Elphicke added: “Why would we ever want to return to where we were four short years ago?”

The MP also visited Dover Jobcentre on Friday last week and praised the work of staff in helping young people in Dover find jobs and training to further their careers.

Staff explained their work in reducing the number of young people in Dover who were NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training). In Dover, youth unemployment levels are down 25% in the past year.

Mr Elphicke said: “Between 2005 and 2010 under Labour, youth unemployment rose a disgraceful 50% in Dover.

“It is now down 43% since the election and 25% in the past year. This isn’t happening by accident.

“It’s down to our welfare reforms and the great work being done at our Jobcentre to support our young people.

“All the staff at the Jobcentre were so conscientious and dedicated to helping people find work. Welfare reforms and the Jobcentre are bearing fruit and more people in Dover are finding jobs.”