...which makes the 2007 figure either 6 times or 9 times greater than in the whole 25 years 1945-1970.
...which is precisely the sort of statistic that concerns people, and the BNP exploits those concerns.
I accept, though, that setting it against net unemployment and demonstrating that the majority of those people are either contributing to our net worth or have now gone home is the more nuanced and difficult element - and that's why it's a pity the figures aren't posted up as plain as a pikestaff for all to see.