The fact that we got so close is something I am immensely proud of – it is pretty ruddy good from where we started from.

I am pleased to see the claimant count falling for the first time in a year. However, the rise in ILO unemployment shows the need to continue to be vigilant.

They can’t get a home for their children, they see black and ethnic minority communities moving in and they are angry.

Recent figures have been erratic and this quarter’s are disappointing. However, taking the year as a whole the number of people in work is up by over 200,000.

What I would love to see is getting rid of silos and pooling budgets so we can do what the individual client needs.

These figures reflect the rather mixed picture of recent months. Employment is up by nearly 200,000 on the year and I am pleased to see the claimant count falling for the first time in a...