WITH only a few days until the polls open, the issue of jobs is likely to be a key factor for people when they vote.

The Conservatives say they have a strong record, with thousands created over the last five years but their opponents say not enough has been done.

Labour’s Mark Dempsey is calling for the creation of a 1,000 jobs club, based on a similar idea in Plymouth, which would see businesses coming together to offer jobs for the unemployed.

It was an idea which was rejected by the council earlier this year as it was deemed Swindon and the south coast city were not comparable but Mark Demspey is keen to push forward with the idea if he is elected on Thursday.

He said: “I am calling for creation of a Swindon 1,000 Jobs Club to recruit 1,000 companies, and get a 1,000 people into work.

“There are still 6,500 people out of work. This shows that we have a long way to go to getting back to being the zero unemployment town, and that we need real change to rebuild Swindon’s economy and restore our position as an economic powerhouse.

“A key starting point is to help people get into work. And that’s why I am calling for the creation of a 1,000 Jobs Club to help get 1,000 people in Swindon back into work.

“Plymouth Council has set up its own 1,000 Club. It has recruited over 1,000 companies and has created 5,746 job opportunities since its creation. The scheme costs just £40,000 to run, and so this is equates to £60 per job. With my plan we could achieve the same results in Swindon.”

However, Tory Justin Tomlinson said government policies were working and the town was on track to gain full employment.

“We have created 8,400 new jobs and 700 apprenticeships which has helped us to reduce unemployment by a staggering 64 per cent,” he said.

“This has been achieved in part by us achieving the fastest growing economy in the developed world and in Swindon 5,345 new businesses have started up.

“We have shown that by backing hard working people, supporting business and reforming our education system that we have equipped this town and once again we are an economic powerhouse.

“A Conservative government has made it clear that we will continue this progress as we aim for full employment and remember no Labour government has ever left office without having sent unemployment rocketing.”

UKIP have said being in the EU has damaged British job prospects so wants the country to be more independent while the Green Party have said they would spend £5 billion to increase the number of training places.

The Liberal Democrats have said while in power they have helped to create a many of the new jobs and apprenticeships as part of the coalition.