The unemployment rate has increased again – to the highest level in nearly five years, according to official figures.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the jobless rate ticked up to 5.2% in December, a high last seen in three months up to January 2021.
The figure had stood at 4.1% when Labour took office in 2024, promising economic growth.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the latest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.