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| Wage growth highest in real terms since 2007 - Politics live | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| 10.28am BST10:28 | |
| Here is Stephen Timms, Labour’s acting shadow work and pensions secretary (because Rachel Reeves is on maternity leave) on the unemployment figures. | |
| The fall in overall unemployment is welcome, but with more than 740,000 young people unemployed it’s clear the government needs to do far more to give young people the chance to earn a living. | |
| Ministers are failing to ensure young people get the best start in life. Last year the number of under 25-year-olds starting an apprenticeship fell. It’s time for ministers to give young people the world-class apprenticeships and training they need to succeed in life. | |
| 10.25am BST10:25 | |
| Private sector workforce 2.4m bigger than in 2010 | |
| In its news release, the Department for Work and Pensions has highlighted other “good news” in the employment figures, beyond the fall in unemployment and the increase in wage growth. (See 9.53am.) Here are some of the points they highlight. | |
| All this will be very good news for George Osborne when he stands in at the despatch box at 12pm. As a political strategist, he will be particularly interested in the first figure (about the increase in the size of the private sector workforce). As Peter Kellner pointed out in a very useful election analysis, private sector workers are far more likely to vote Tory than public sector workers. | |
| 10.09am BST10:09 | |
| Here is James Sproule, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, on the unemployment and wages figures. (See 9.53am.) | |
| With real wages growing and unemployment continuing to fall, today’s figures indicate the UK economy is well along the road of recovery. Falling energy prices and low inflation have eased the pressure on companies and boosted their balance sheets. Many are now able to pass these benefits on to their staff through pay rises and bonuses. | |
| During the downturn, businesses made the difficult decision to preserve jobs and asked that employees forsake pay rises. The strength of the recovery proves this was the right choice. Encouragingly, pay rises are being handed out in a manner which is both sustainable and in line with long-term productivity trends. As the labour market continues to tighten and competition for jobs heats up, real wage growth should remain entrenched for some time to come. | |
| 10.01am BST10:01 | |
| Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, told LBC this morning that, although he was “prepared” to lead the No (to staying in the EU) campaign in the referendum, he thought someone from outside politics should take that role. | |
| The role of Ukip, the role of myself will be important. That’s not saying that I have to take the lead. I would be prepared to of course. But I suspect what we will see is somebody coming from completely outside of normal politics, somebody from the world of business or entertainment that hasn’t got any political baggage at all. I think someone like that may well emerge. | |
| 9.53am BST09:53 | 9.53am BST09:53 |
| Wage growth highest in real terms since October 2007 | Wage growth highest in real terms since October 2007 |
| Here is the start of the Press Association story about the unemployment figures. | Here is the start of the Press Association story about the unemployment figures. |
| Wage rises have reached their highest rate for nearly four years, official figures showed today. | Wage rises have reached their highest rate for nearly four years, official figures showed today. |
| Total pay climbed by 2.7% compared with a year earlier in the three months to April, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. | Total pay climbed by 2.7% compared with a year earlier in the three months to April, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. |
| It was the biggest rise since August 2011, and up from a revised 2.3% in the three months to March. | It was the biggest rise since August 2011, and up from a revised 2.3% in the three months to March. |
| Ultra-low inflation - which fell to minus 0.1% in April - means the surge in pay is worth more in real terms. | Ultra-low inflation - which fell to minus 0.1% in April - means the surge in pay is worth more in real terms. |
| The growth in real wages for the period, at 2.8%, is the highest since October 2007. | The growth in real wages for the period, at 2.8%, is the highest since October 2007. |
| Meanwhile, the ONS figures showed unemployment fell by 43,000 to 1.81 million in the three months to April compared to the prior three months while the jobless rate was down to 5.5%, from 5.7%. | Meanwhile, the ONS figures showed unemployment fell by 43,000 to 1.81 million in the three months to April compared to the prior three months while the jobless rate was down to 5.5%, from 5.7%. |
| The unemployment figure was last lower in the three months to August 2008. | The unemployment figure was last lower in the three months to August 2008. |
| The number of people in work rose to 31.05m, 114,000 more than in the three months to January. | The number of people in work rose to 31.05m, 114,000 more than in the three months to January. |
| Numbers claiming unemployment-related benefits in May - under a new measure including both those on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some of those receiving Universal Credit - fell 6,500 to 791,800. | Numbers claiming unemployment-related benefits in May - under a new measure including both those on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some of those receiving Universal Credit - fell 6,500 to 791,800. |
| This was the smallest fall since February 2013. | This was the smallest fall since February 2013. |
| ONS statistician Nick Palmer said: “Total pay is now up 2.7% on the year, the sharpest rate of growth since summer 2011. | ONS statistician Nick Palmer said: “Total pay is now up 2.7% on the year, the sharpest rate of growth since summer 2011. |
| “Meanwhile employment continues to rise and unemployment to fall, maintaining the general trend of the last three and a half years.” | “Meanwhile employment continues to rise and unemployment to fall, maintaining the general trend of the last three and a half years.” |
| 9.38am BST09:38 | 9.38am BST09:38 |
| Unemployment down to 5.5% | Unemployment down to 5.5% |
| Here are the headline unemployment figures. | Here are the headline unemployment figures. |
| Here is the Office for National Statistics summary. And here is the ONS statistical bulletin, with the full details (pdf). | Here is the Office for National Statistics summary. And here is the ONS statistical bulletin, with the full details (pdf). |
| 9.33am BST09:33 | 9.33am BST09:33 |
| According to Paddy Power, 90% of the money bet on the Labour deputy leadership in the last week and a half has been on Tom Watson. He is the 4/5 favourite, behind Carline Flint on 7/2, Stella Creasy on 4/1, and Angela Eagle and Rushanara Ali on 10/1. | According to Paddy Power, 90% of the money bet on the Labour deputy leadership in the last week and a half has been on Tom Watson. He is the 4/5 favourite, behind Carline Flint on 7/2, Stella Creasy on 4/1, and Angela Eagle and Rushanara Ali on 10/1. |
| 9.09am BST09:09 | 9.09am BST09:09 |
| But, according to the Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris, there is also a campaign to keep Creasy off the ballot. He tweeted this yesterday. | But, according to the Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris, there is also a campaign to keep Creasy off the ballot. He tweeted this yesterday. |
| Am watching political machines at work. Govt 1 on the EU Ref Bill, Labour one trying to stop @stellacreasy getting on the Dep Leader ballot. | Am watching political machines at work. Govt 1 on the EU Ref Bill, Labour one trying to stop @stellacreasy getting on the Dep Leader ballot. |
| 9.08am BST09:08 | 9.08am BST09:08 |
| I guess this counts as a celebrity endorsement for Stella Creasy. | I guess this counts as a celebrity endorsement for Stella Creasy. |
| MPs still deciding who to vote for as Labour's new deputy - @stellacreasy looks like the future to me. Foe of Wonga, grassroots campaigner. | MPs still deciding who to vote for as Labour's new deputy - @stellacreasy looks like the future to me. Foe of Wonga, grassroots campaigner. |
| Online, the “get Creasy on the ballot” campaign seems reasonably active. | Online, the “get Creasy on the ballot” campaign seems reasonably active. |
| 29 MPs still to nominate, a few hours left. Please let these Labour MPs know you want @stellacreasy on the ballot pic.twitter.com/VeB1llh6T2 | 29 MPs still to nominate, a few hours left. Please let these Labour MPs know you want @stellacreasy on the ballot pic.twitter.com/VeB1llh6T2 |
| 8.58am BST08:58 | 8.58am BST08:58 |
| We’re going to see George Osborne take PMQs for the first time today. In a very good Guardian column, Rafael Behr has an elegant explanation. | We’re going to see George Osborne take PMQs for the first time today. In a very good Guardian column, Rafael Behr has an elegant explanation. |
| In the hierarchy of people who matter to David Cameron these days, the entire Labour party sits well below the prime minister of Luxembourg. Since renegotiation of Britain’s EU membership will require unanimous support from 27 other member states, the hostility of a single head of government could sink the whole plan. So instead of taking questions in the House of Commons tomorrow, Cameron is courting Italy’s prime minister Matteo Renzi in the morning, followed by dinner with Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg. | In the hierarchy of people who matter to David Cameron these days, the entire Labour party sits well below the prime minister of Luxembourg. Since renegotiation of Britain’s EU membership will require unanimous support from 27 other member states, the hostility of a single head of government could sink the whole plan. So instead of taking questions in the House of Commons tomorrow, Cameron is courting Italy’s prime minister Matteo Renzi in the morning, followed by dinner with Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg. |
| As first secretary of state, as well as chancellor, which makes him deputy prime minister in all but name, Osborne is Cameron’s stand-in. It will be worth watching closely because taking PMQs regularly is now clearly party of Osborne’s long-term career planning. Labour are putting up Hilary Benn to oppose him. | As first secretary of state, as well as chancellor, which makes him deputy prime minister in all but name, Osborne is Cameron’s stand-in. It will be worth watching closely because taking PMQs regularly is now clearly party of Osborne’s long-term career planning. Labour are putting up Hilary Benn to oppose him. |
| Before that, we’ve got a mini race to see whether any more candidates can make it onto the ballot for the Labour deputy leadership. Tom Watson and Caroline Flint already have the nominations they need, but Stella Creasy, Angela Eagle, Rushanara Ali and Ben Bradshaw are all short of the 35 names they need. Creasy seems to have the best chance; she is is on 28, making her seven short. According to the New Statesman’s list, Eagle currently has 25 backers, Ali 24 and Bradshaw 21. | Before that, we’ve got a mini race to see whether any more candidates can make it onto the ballot for the Labour deputy leadership. Tom Watson and Caroline Flint already have the nominations they need, but Stella Creasy, Angela Eagle, Rushanara Ali and Ben Bradshaw are all short of the 35 names they need. Creasy seems to have the best chance; she is is on 28, making her seven short. According to the New Statesman’s list, Eagle currently has 25 backers, Ali 24 and Bradshaw 21. |
| Tonight we’ve got the first televised hustings for the Labour leadership. It starts at 7pm. I will be covering that on a separate live blog, which I will launch at around 6pm. | Tonight we’ve got the first televised hustings for the Labour leadership. It starts at 7pm. I will be covering that on a separate live blog, which I will launch at around 6pm. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| 9.30am: Unemployment figures are released. | 9.30am: Unemployment figures are released. |
| 10.50am: Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, and William Dartmouth, the Ukip MEP, launch a pamphlet called “The Truth about Trade Beyond the EU.” | 10.50am: Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, and William Dartmouth, the Ukip MEP, launch a pamphlet called “The Truth about Trade Beyond the EU.” |
| 12pm: Nominations close for the Labour deputy leadership. | 12pm: Nominations close for the Labour deputy leadership. |
| 12pm: George Osborne faces Hilary Benn at PMQs. | 12pm: George Osborne faces Hilary Benn at PMQs. |
| Cameron will be in Milan, meeting his Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi, before going to Luxembourg to meet the prime minister, Xavier Bettel. | Cameron will be in Milan, meeting his Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi, before going to Luxembourg to meet the prime minister, Xavier Bettel. |
| As usual I will be covering the breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will post a summary at lunchtime and another in the afternoon. | As usual I will be covering the breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will post a summary at lunchtime and another in the afternoon. |
| If you want to follow me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow | If you want to follow me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow |