UK jobless total hits 14-year high

Unemployment in the UK is at a 14-year high of 2.47 million after a 210,000 rise in the three months to July, official figures showed today.

The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance rose by 24,400 to 1.61 million in August – the highest since May 1997 and the 18th monthly rise in a row, according to Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS).