Jobless tally hits a four-year high

RACHEL Reeves has been accused of choking the job market with her Budget tax raid as unemployment hit a four-year high.

- By Martyn Brown Political Editor

The Chancellor's National Insurance hike was blamed as worrying new figures showed the rate is now at 4.5%, the highest level since 2021.

The number of people on payrolls has plunged by 106,000 in the past year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Vacancies have fallen by 42,000 in the three months from February to April.