Just weeks after it announced over 200 job cuts, recent news that Lloyds banking group will be cutting a further 410 jobs has left me outraged. 

As well as having a devastating effect on hundreds of families and individuals, the impact this will have on the local economy will also be serious, with Lloyds having been one of the main private sector employers in the city.

But now that almost half the bank is publicly-owned, the Government should be doing more to step in and save jobs.

Almost unbelievably, there have been in excess of 15,000 job losses announced since Lloyds took over HBOS last year. Moreover, it has just become clear that HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland were given a secret £60 billion in bridging loans last year, on top of the £500 billion of support the banking sector received from the taxpayer.

Once again, those least responsible for the financial crisis are being forced to pay the highest price for it.