Umemployment at a 17 year high

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Good to see this government equalling that nice Mr Major's achievement.

[DimPrawn]

We have to cut jobs to keep our AAA rating, which in turn means cheap borrowing and so high house prices and therefore more profit for BTL owners.

So it's worth it in the end.

[TimberWolf]

We have to cut jobs to keep our AAA rating, which in turn means cheap borrowing and so high house prices and therefore more profit for BTL owners.

So it's worth it in the end.

Yep, it's all done in the name of keeping house prices high.

[gingerjedi]

This "gotta keep on track to maintain AAA rating" mantra is getting a bit tired now as the projected growth just isn't happening, how high will unemployment go before Cameron takes his fingers out of his ears and stops chanting "la la la not listening"?

As for Miliband's attempted attack, that slight lisp and Aardman look don't do him any favours.

[shaunbhoy]

As for Miliband's attempted attack, that slight lisp and Aardman look don't do him any favours.

Well spotted GJ.

[Arturo Bassick]

Is that figure using the Labour count or the new Tory count? The Tories changed the counting mechanism to show a lot more people that Labour had not been counting so the figures are bound to be higher. Easy headline for the left wing press.

[gingerjedi]

Is that figure using the Labour count or the new Tory count? The Tories changed the counting mechanism to show a lot more people that Labour had not been counting so the figures are bound to be higher. Easy headline for the left wing press.

Yeah unemployment hasn't gone up, what are people complaining about?

[doodab]

Is that figure using the Labour count or the new Tory count? The Tories changed the counting mechanism to show a lot more people that Labour had not been counting so the figures are bound to be higher. Easy headline for the left wing press.

That almost makes up for the dozen or so times they changed the counting mechanism when they were last in power themselves.

[PAH]

Yep, it's all done in the name of keeping house prices high.

Which has a knock on effect on rental prices also being high. Helped by the housing benefits that prop up the baseline, as it's inevitable private landlords will charge at least the minimum housing benefit rate.

BBC News - Private rents in England unaffordable, says Shelter

Private rents are now unaffordable in 55% of local authorities in England, the housing charity Shelter has said.

Just 12% of areas were affordable, it added.

Where's the other 33%?

So, you want to know why the economy is tanking, causing all these job losses?

No need to look further than cheap credit (many are maxed out on credit card and mortgage debt), high accommodation prices, high energy/food/petrol prices, and static wages. Resulting in less money to spend on everything else.

[MarillionFan]

So unemployment for 16-24years old is now half according to the report. So if youngsters aren't getting the skills at 16-24 how does that bode for the next 5/10 years.

For P/T staff I used to hire over 60's because they were reliable and for Saturday staff 16/17 because they were cheap. As soon as they got older the minimum wage was too high for P/T w/e staff.

Tickingt timebomb here.