Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has spoken out in support of Barnet Unison as an employment tribunal gets under way with outsourcing firm Capita.

The tribunal, about redundancies from Barnet council, started yesterday in Radius House, Watford and is due to last until August 7.

Mr Corbyn, who has been the MP for Islington North since 1983, said: “I have been proud to support John Burgess and all the Barnet Unison members in the campaign against outsourcing these vital services, I have been on every picket line with them so far, and wish them well in the employment tribunal that started today.

“Barnet are on the front line of the savage cuts to local authority budgets that the Conservatives are forcing on local councils, Barnet Unison have been dealing with the consequences of the Government’s deep cuts to local government funding.

“We need to listen more to local government and prepare to revitalise local government under Labour from 2020.”

Mr Corbyn, who faces Labour MPs Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall in the leadership contest, joined Barnet Unison on a picket line during industrial action earlier this month over an ongoing outsourcing row with the council.

He added: "This government have centralised power while devolving the pain inflicted by cuts to local councils. It is the most deprived communities in the country that are bearing the brunt of the Government’s economically flawed programme.

"We in the Labour movement must stand for strong, democratically accountable public services and support our councils in delivering them."

A spokesman for Capita declined to comment, saying it was inappropriate while proceedings are going on.