Unemployment figures show 'mixed picture' says Grayling

There is a "mixed picture" in figures which show that UK unemployment increased by 27,000 in the three months to the end of January to 2.53 million, according to Employment Minister Chris Grayling.

The increase took the unemployment rate to 8%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, with the youth unemployment rate at a record.

However, the ONS figures also showed that the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell by 10,200 in February to 1.45 million