Jobless figures rising fastest in Yorkshire

More than a quarter of a million people in the region are now looking for work after a rise of 13,000 since December last year.

Nationally the jobless figure reached 2.5 million and the number of people classed as economically inactive also soared to record levels.

The figures dealt a major pre-election blow to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as he was forced to defend his record while on the campaign trail, claiming unemployment was lower than in the USA, France and Germany.

Employment Minister Jim Knight told the Yorkshire Post: "When you look at things more locally there are some pretty good stories on claimant count in Leeds, but it's more of a struggle in Humberside.

"That says to us the recovery is there but it's very fragile."

Unemployment in the region increased by 43,000 in the three months to February, to the worst total since 1994.

Nationally, those out of work long term – more than a year – increased by 89,000 to 726,000, the highest since Labour came to power in 1997, while the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work increased by 4,000 to 929,000.

Tory Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May seized on the grim figures to accuse Labour of failing on jobs.