UK unemployment rise: Crabb claims Brexit threat could be to blame

Work and pensions secretary says figure of 1.7 million unemployed is signal that EU referendum uncertainty is hitting jobs

The threat of a potential vote to leave the EU in June could be partly to blame for the first rise in unemployment in seven months, the work and pensions secretary has warned.

Stephen Crabb said the latest labour report, which showed the unemployment total rose by 21,000 in the three months to February to 1.7 million, was a signal that the looming EU referendum vote was hitting the jobs market.

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