Rachel Reeves came under fire after new figures showed the rate of unemployment hit its highest level for more than four years The jobless rate increased unexpectedly to 4.8% in the three months to August, up from 4.7% in the previous three months, according to the Office for National Statistics.
This is the highest since March to January 2021, at the height of the pandemic, although the ONS said the figure needs to be treated with caution as it continues to overhaul its labour market survey.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said: “The only thing growing under Labour is the unemployment queue and the national debt.
“The Conservatives left office with unemployment at near record lows and the fastest-growing economy in the G7. In just over a year, Labour has killed growth and crushed jobs and livelihoods, with families paying the price.
“Keir Starmer has no backbone and is too weak to stand up to his own backbenchers to cut welfare and get people back into work. Now families face another Rachel Reeves’ tax raid, which will pile on pressure on workers and punish the businesses that create jobs.”
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