WIRRAL MPs have given a mixed reaction to news that unemployment in the borough has fallen for the third month in a row.

Labour members warned the economy is still “fragile” while Wirral's only Conservative MP welcomed the news as "tremendous".

The Office for National Statistics reports 7,942 people claimed Jobseekers Allowance in November compared to 8,129 the previous month, meaning a drop of 187.

Birkenhead saw the biggest fall in the number of claimants with 93 fewer people signing on, taking the figure to 3,272.

Wirral South had a drop of 50 to 1,033 while there were 2,625 Wallasey claimants, meaning a reduction of just six.

And Wirral West claimants fell from 1,050 to 1,012.

However Wallasey MP Angela Eagle the figures should be treated with caution.

She said: “While it is always good news to hear of any fall in unemployment, we also have to look at the other issues which give us a bigger picture and that is that wages are not rising at the same level of inflation.

“There are many people looking to increase their hours and there are still far too many people who are long-term unemployed.

“We also need to look at the recent Autumn Statement which forecasts that unemployment will go up in the next year so the figures are quite fragile but welcome.”

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern said the borough should still prepare for forthcoming council cuts.

She said: “Unemployment is down across the Northwest which, of course is good news.

"But we are bracing ourselves in Wirral for the impact of council cuts combined with what looks like more cuts from the Chancellor.”

Wirral West Conservative MP Esther McVey said the latest figures were “tremendous” for local people.

She said: “This is tremendous news in Wirral, and the third month in a row we have seen an increase in the number of people in work.

"A record number of people are now in work across the UK after the biggest fall in unemployment for over a decade.

“The jobless total fell by 82,000 in the three months to October to 2.51m, down by 128,000 on a year ago.

"This really is positive news and we will continue to build on this momentum.”