Newslinks for Wednesday 18th February 2026
This affects the entire country.
Reeves’s key job changes branded ‘silent killer’ as UK joblessness soars
“Job taxes imposed by Rachel Reeves have been branded the “silent killer of British aspiration” after unemployment across the UK hit a near five-year high. Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride took aim at Ms Reeves following the release of official figures on Tuesday which showed the rate of joblessness rose to 5.2% – or over 1.8 million people – in the three months to December. The figure had stood at 4.1% – or over 1.4 million people – when Labour took office in 2024, promising economic growth. For those in work, wages are still rising faster than prices but the rate at which they are growing continued to slow. Sir Mel said: “In a year of economic incompetence, Starmer and Reeves have presided over a P45 Government that has seen 134,000 payrolled jobs vaporised. Unemployment has climbed to 5.2% – the highest it’s been since the pandemic, and the dream of a steady paycheque is slipping away for thousands. This decline is not an accident, it’s a choice.”” – Daily Express
Gloom for UK workers as incomes flatline and jobs market falters – The Guardian
Sterling rocked by Labour jobs crisis: Pound slips below $1.35 as youth unemployment soars – This Is Money
Fears for a generation as youth unemployment hits 11-year high – The Times
Women hardest hit by soaring unemployment with 51,000 more out of work in four months – The Standard
‘It’s soul-crushing’: young people battle to find any work in bleak jobs market – The Guardian
Labour may drop minimum wage pledge over youth jobless fears – The Times
Comment:
Rachel Reeves is killing jobs and crushing Britain’s future with her incompetence – Mel Stride, Daily Express
Labour’s own goals on jobs – Financial Times
Rachel Reeves tips UK into death spiral – today Angela Rayner delivers the killer blow – Harvey Jones, Daily Express
Why does Labour hate the young? – Alistair Osborne, The Times
Britain’s shocking unemployment surge can be traced to one thing. This is why I now fear we will find it impossible to escape this doom loop of job market catastrophe and soaring benefits – Alex Brummer, Daily Mail
We could have managed the AI jobs apocalypse. It is too late now – Philip Johnston, Daily Telegraph
> Today:
Deema Khunda: An obsession with credentialism is another barrier to youth entry into the workforce.
Reeves blocking defence cash boost
“Rachel Reeves is resisting pressure from military chiefs to spend billions more on defence, The Telegraph understands. The Chancellor has rejected requests from the Ministry of Defence to increase its budget amid fears of a £28bn funding shortfall. Talks over the defence budget have now hit a roadblock, as Ms Reeves faces warnings from service chiefs that existing plans will …
This affects the entire country.
Reeves’s key job changes branded ‘silent killer’ as UK joblessness soars
“Job taxes imposed by Rachel Reeves have been branded the “silent killer of British aspiration” after unemployment across the UK hit a near five-year high. Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride took aim at Ms Reeves following the release of official figures on Tuesday which showed the rate of joblessness rose to 5.2% – or over 1.8 million people – in the three months to December. The figure had stood at 4.1% – or over 1.4 million people – when Labour took office in 2024, promising economic growth. For those in work, wages are still rising faster than prices but the rate at which they are growing continued to slow. Sir Mel said: “In a year of economic incompetence, Starmer and Reeves have presided over a P45 Government that has seen 134,000 payrolled jobs vaporised. Unemployment has climbed to 5.2% – the highest it’s been since the pandemic, and the dream of a steady paycheque is slipping away for thousands. This decline is not an accident, it’s a choice.”” – Daily Express
Gloom for UK workers as incomes flatline and jobs market falters – The Guardian
Sterling rocked by Labour jobs crisis: Pound slips below $1.35 as youth unemployment soars – This Is Money
Fears for a generation as youth unemployment hits 11-year high – The Times
Women hardest hit by soaring unemployment with 51,000 more out of work in four months – The Standard
‘It’s soul-crushing’: young people battle to find any work in bleak jobs market – The Guardian
Labour may drop minimum wage pledge over youth jobless fears – The Times
Comment:
Rachel Reeves is killing jobs and crushing Britain’s future with her incompetence – Mel Stride, Daily Express
Labour’s own goals on jobs – Financial Times
Rachel Reeves tips UK into death spiral – today Angela Rayner delivers the killer blow – Harvey Jones, Daily Express
Why does Labour hate the young? – Alistair Osborne, The Times
Britain’s shocking unemployment surge can be traced to one thing. This is why I now fear we will find it impossible to escape this doom loop of job market catastrophe and soaring benefits – Alex Brummer, Daily Mail
We could have managed the AI jobs apocalypse. It is too late now – Philip Johnston, Daily Telegraph
> Today:
Deema Khunda: An obsession with credentialism is another barrier to youth entry into the workforce.
Reeves blocking defence cash boost
“Rachel Reeves is resisting pressure from military chiefs to spend billions more on defence, The Telegraph understands. The Chancellor has rejected requests from the Ministry of Defence to increase its budget amid fears of a £28bn funding shortfall. Talks over the defence budget have now hit a roadblock, as Ms Reeves faces warnings from service chiefs that existing plans will …
Newslinks for Wednesday 18th February 2026
This affects the entire country.
Reeves’s key job changes branded ‘silent killer’ as UK joblessness soars
“Job taxes imposed by Rachel Reeves have been branded the “silent killer of British aspiration” after unemployment across the UK hit a near five-year high. Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride took aim at Ms Reeves following the release of official figures on Tuesday which showed the rate of joblessness rose to 5.2% – or over 1.8 million people – in the three months to December. The figure had stood at 4.1% – or over 1.4 million people – when Labour took office in 2024, promising economic growth. For those in work, wages are still rising faster than prices but the rate at which they are growing continued to slow. Sir Mel said: “In a year of economic incompetence, Starmer and Reeves have presided over a P45 Government that has seen 134,000 payrolled jobs vaporised. Unemployment has climbed to 5.2% – the highest it’s been since the pandemic, and the dream of a steady paycheque is slipping away for thousands. This decline is not an accident, it’s a choice.”” – Daily Express
Gloom for UK workers as incomes flatline and jobs market falters – The Guardian
Sterling rocked by Labour jobs crisis: Pound slips below $1.35 as youth unemployment soars – This Is Money
Fears for a generation as youth unemployment hits 11-year high – The Times
Women hardest hit by soaring unemployment with 51,000 more out of work in four months – The Standard
‘It’s soul-crushing’: young people battle to find any work in bleak jobs market – The Guardian
Labour may drop minimum wage pledge over youth jobless fears – The Times
Comment:
Rachel Reeves is killing jobs and crushing Britain’s future with her incompetence – Mel Stride, Daily Express
Labour’s own goals on jobs – Financial Times
Rachel Reeves tips UK into death spiral – today Angela Rayner delivers the killer blow – Harvey Jones, Daily Express
Why does Labour hate the young? – Alistair Osborne, The Times
Britain’s shocking unemployment surge can be traced to one thing. This is why I now fear we will find it impossible to escape this doom loop of job market catastrophe and soaring benefits – Alex Brummer, Daily Mail
We could have managed the AI jobs apocalypse. It is too late now – Philip Johnston, Daily Telegraph
> Today:
Deema Khunda: An obsession with credentialism is another barrier to youth entry into the workforce.
Reeves blocking defence cash boost
“Rachel Reeves is resisting pressure from military chiefs to spend billions more on defence, The Telegraph understands. The Chancellor has rejected requests from the Ministry of Defence to increase its budget amid fears of a £28bn funding shortfall. Talks over the defence budget have now hit a roadblock, as Ms Reeves faces warnings from service chiefs that existing plans will …
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