British Chambers of Commerce calls for ‘urgent action’ as jobless figures top two million
Unemployment has risen above 2 million for the first time since 1997, according to official figures out today.

The number of people out of work rose to 2.03 million in the three months to January, up by 165,000, the Office for National Statistics said. This took the unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent between November and January, up from 6.3 per cent.