is trying to hide something, which, given the amount of work he puts in to produce summary charts of ONS data seems a bit small-minded. Neil will no doubt respond, however, I have a question for you. Why would including these figures make a difference to Neil's overall claim that the labour market is in the doldrums? Also, if you think these figures are very important why don't you emulate Neil, go to the ONS website, find the applicable raw data and produce figures for us all to check out. A short-term job in London is not at all the equivalent of a stimulus to spending across the whole country which is generated by a VAT cut - unlike other tax cuts which enable more rich people to put money into the banks. But I guess if your world ends at the boundaries of NW6, then sod the other 50 million citizens. If you are a leftie simply believe that the unemployment figures are wrong and the true figures are a lot worse than this. If you are a rightie believe that the GDP figures are wrong and the true figures are a lot better than this. or you look at the research and perhaps conclude that part of the reason is labour hoarding i findings suggest that the continued overall resilience of the labour market may owe more to employers' desire to hold on to key skills than confidence. Most popular on the Guardian Today in pictures After advising