Byrne: More work to do to create jobs

UK unemployment fell 88,000 in the three months to April this year to 2.43 million, the biggest drop since the summer of 2000, latest data shows.

The unemployment rate was 7.7%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), down from 7.9% in the previous quarter.

However, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in May rose by 19,600 to 1.49 million.

The rise was the biggest since July 2009, and larger than expected.

Speaking to the BBC, shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne welcomed the drop in unemployment, but said that the government should be doing more to create jobs and to encourage growth in the construction and manufacturing sectors.