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The number of people unemployed in the UK has fallen slightly, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

Total unemployment stood at 2.46 million for the three months to December, down 3,000 on the figure for the previous three months. The rate of unemployment was unchanged at 7.8%.

However, the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance rose by 23,500 to 1.64 million in January, the largest increase since July last year.

The public sector is expected to suffer big cuts later this year as whichever party forms the next government will need to begin the process of reducing the UK’s £178bn budget deficit, this could spark a second round of rising unemployment.