Barnet Council’s leader Richard Cornelius has rejected claims the Conservatives are “out of touch with local people.”

Cllr Cornelius has come to the defence of the Tories after re-elected Labour leader, Councillor Alison Moore said her party would continue to fight the council's "unpopular" policies.

Cllr Moore said: “The Conservatives running Barnet council are hopelessly out of touch with local people who have made their views clear on the unpopular One Barnet programme, on parking, on private hire of parks, on Library closures, and many other issues.

"We will continue to fight these policies, and hope to build on Labour’s recent electoral successes, by continuing to be on the side of local people – they are the reason we are here.”

But council leader Cllr Cornelius said: “I don’t think we’re out of touch – we live in the local community, mix with people and we know what people are saying.

“The budget situation is so difficult – taking £43 million out of the budget, that’s 26 per cent, is a really big deal – but we’re doing it.”

Speaking about the controversial One Barnet programme which aims to outsource services to private companies, Cllr Cornelius added: “I think One Barnet will be really popular when people see the savings it will realise for the borough and its hard pressed tax payers."