Latest figures from the ONS show the unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in the three months to December. Up from 5.1% in the previous month and the highest level since January 2021…
The number of payrolled employees fell by an estimated 134,000 in the 12 months to January 2026. Public sector pay growth is approaching a record level of 7.2% compared with the private sector’s dismal 3.4% – the slowest in five years. Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said:
“These figures show the impact of a ‘zombie government’ with no plan for growth. Labour’s Jobs Tax, economic uncertainty and their red tape Employment Rights Bill are holding back hiring, creating a jobless generation.”
And this is before Labour’s Employment Rights Act kicks in…
Burnham confirms he spoke to Trump last night about drilling in the North Sea:
“I indicated in the phone call that we had a week last Monday that I would take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea, and that is my intention as we go forward from here. There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the president…”