In the UK unemployment has risen by 23,000 to 2.47 million during the three months to April, according to official figures provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This represents an increase to 7.9% of the labour market, up from 7.8% in the last quarter of 2008.

There was slightly brighter news for the UK government, struggling with a large budget deficit as the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell in May by 30,900 to 1.48 million.

Unemployment did actually fall in some areas, including Wales, and the north-east of England, but struggling economies in other areas of the UK pushed the total up.