Cost of helping jobless spirals as Labour's popularity declines

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Last Modified: 14 Feb 2009
By: Gary Gibbon

Extra spending to help the unemployed does not appear to be making the Labour government any more popular. Gary Gibbon reports.

But all this spending is not making the government any more popular, as the impact of job losses is felt most in Labour heartlands like Sheffield.

A poll for tomorrow's Independent on Sunday puts Labour on just 25 per cent, their lowest showing yet.

That is despite new schemes like the Flexible New Deal, using private sector firms to help the long term unemployed find work.

It was designed to help cities like Sheffield, blighted by job losses in the 1980s.

Our political editor Gary Gibbon went to find out whether it is making a difference.