UK unemployment rises by 137,000
In the three months to October the unemployment rate in the UK increased by 137,000 and now stands at 1.86 million. The 2 million mark is not very far away and should be reached in early 2009 or before depending upon how the economy performs over the next few months. However, as we have covered of late, the 2 million mark could only be a stopping point with many experts predicting UK unemployment will hit around 3 million in 2009/10. This would be a complete disaster for the government as Gordon Brown has until mid-2010 to call a general election which he is fighting to win.
There is no doubt that the government will try to manipulate the economy to show signs of recovery as and when they decide to call the next general election and while not particularly popular with voters this is basic politics. So many Labour Party members are suggesting he needs to go to the polls over the next six months as the economy may not recover in time for a 2010 general election which would give the Conservative party a substantial boost in its fight to regain power.
Recently we have seen Gordon Brown attack "nasty David Cameron" which is a sign of how brutal and controversial the general election could well be.
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