Today’s unemployment figures, which show a 118,000 increase in the jobless total and a record number of young people out of work, are a condemnation of the government’s economic policy.

At the same time as the number of unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds increased by 52,000 over the quarter to 1.04 million, the number of people out of work for longer than two years increased by to 424,000.

“Young people are being sacrificed on the altar of a failed economic dogma. The Tories have created a lost generation – and they don’t care so long as they and their millionaire friends are OK,” said Sam James, Right to Work’s joint national chair.

Michael Bradley from RTW’s steering committee says, “Every month there is more shattering news of wrecked lives and destroyed hopes. There are many tens of thousands more job losses to come if this government stays in office.

“That is why RTW, along with others, will be demonstrating on Saturday 25 February in Leeds at the Tory local government conference. It is a chance to take our message directly to Eric Pickles and other Tory grandees. We say make the bankers and bosses pay, not workers and the unemployed.”