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A NEW poll has shown that the Tories have increased their lead in being the most trusted party on the economy, despite the number of unemployed in the UK creeping over 2.5 million for the first time since the 1990s.

The findings in an Ipsos/Mori poll were published as David Cameron admitted the increase in unemployment of 80,000 last month was “disappointing” during clashes with Labour leader Ed Miliband in Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).

The poll of 1,008 voters across the UK showed that 33 per cent trusted the Conservatives most on the economy, 23 per cent Labour and 8 per cent the Lib Dems, with the Tory lead over Labour rising from 3 to 10 per cent.

But Mr Miliband accused the premier of “spin” and said the private sector was not filling the gap left by coalition cuts.

He added: “What young people and their families are asking is, ‘Where are the jobs?’.”

Mr Cameron told MPs: “These unemployment figures are disappointing figures, I don’t want to hide from that. Every lost job is a tragedy for that family and I want to do everything that I can, and this government will do everything it can, to help those people back into work.

“That’s why we have 360,000 apprenticeships starting this year, that’s why we have 10,000 extra university places and that’s why, in the Work Programme, we’ve got the biggest back-to-work, welfare-to-work programme this country has seen since the 1930s.” But he added: “It is right that we get on top of our debts and our deficits.

“Today of all days shows the danger of getting into a position other European countries are in, where their whole credibility is being questioned.”

However, there was further controversy after Mr Cameron was challenged on the rise of unemployment among women which is at its highest level in more than 20 years. East Lothian Labour MP Fiona O’Donnell was incensed by three women Tory MPs being moved by Mr Cameron’s parliamentary private secretary to sit behind the Prime Minister to appear in the television shots as he answered questions on the subject.

She said: “The truth is that unemployment for women is going up and there are still not enough women in senior positions.

“If Mr Cameron and the Tories believe that this is just about presentation then it shows he barely has a grasp on the issue.”

The Prime Minister admitted the current figures for women in boardrooms were “simply not good enough” and the under-representation of women in public life was also reflected at the top of political parties.

“Only 14 per cent of FTSE 100 company directors are women. We should do far better,” he said.

“We need to take much more pro-active action to make sure we have a much better balance at the top of politics.

“We need a much better balance at the top of our boardrooms as well,” he said.