A SUSSEX MP has claimed that UK employment is going strong.

Conservative MP Amber Rudd, who has represented Hastings and Rye since being elected in 2010, made the comments in a column for a national newspaper yesterday.

She said: "Regardless of the political debates, whatever the predictions and despite the global economic uncertainties, UK employment is going strong.

"New data shows that we have a record high level of employment, with 32.8 million people in work, an increase of more than 3.7 million people since 2010 - which is more than the entire population of Birmingham.

"It is true that there has been uncertainty, and like other nations the UK is facing global economic headwinds.

"But the fact remains that we are well braced for that – our economy is still predicted to grow faster than Germany, Italy and Japan."

The secretary of state for work and pensions pointed to Britain's position as "one of the easiest places in Europe to set up a business" as a contributing factor to these employment levels, saying this gave the nation a "huge competitive advantage over our European neighbours".

She said: "Britain is well placed to ensure more of us have the security of a regular pay packet and that employment continues to rise.

"Employers have confidence in the UK and our workers, and that’s the case across all industries.

"The latest data shows there are 145,000 more jobs in IT in the last two years, 105,000 in science and technology and 83,000 more in manufacturing.

"Sometimes we can get lost in the figures but when you create more jobs, you create more opportunities for people and you improve their mental health and quality of life.

"More jobs mean fewer children growing up in a home with no adult in work."

Ms Rudd said that the jobs held were not short-term positions, saying that "of the 3.7 million more people in work since 2010, three quarters have entered permanent, full-time and higher skilled roles".

She also described a "well earned pay rise" being experienced by UK workers "across all jobs".

Ms Rudd said she had met with a group of female engineers and apprentices yesterday who are "benefitting from Britain’s employment boom".

She said: "If female presence in the construction industry sounds odd, you have clearly not been paying attention because since 2010 there are 58,000 more women in construction jobs and 1.9 million more women in work overall.

"It’s all contributing to a workforce that is more gender diverse than ever before and we have also seen a near-record rate of ethnic minority people in work under this government.

"Of those 3.7 million more people in employment since 2010, almost a third were from an ethnic minority.

"And as the new Women and Equalities Minister, as well as Work and Pensions Secretary, I know we can do even more to help people overcome their own barriers to work and make sure our welfare system delivers for each individual.

"So yes, we still have work to do but Britain is well placed to finish our economic recovery.

"As the Prime Minister has made clear, we will deliver Brexit by the end of October whatever the circumstances. So we are stepping up our preparations across Government – including a new fast-track visa route to attract top scientists and researchers into British jobs."

Her comments follow an announcement by the Brexit Party that it would try to topple Ms Rudd at the next election.

She campaigned for remain and then for a soft Brexit before Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.

She was elected with a majority of 346 votes in coastal Hastings and Rye, which voted 56 per cent leave in the 2016 referendum.

The Brexit Party will field former Labour party member Tom Bewick - who used to serve as the chairman of the education committee for Brighton and Hove City Council - to contest her position.