John McDonnell addresses the picket line, pictured with Unison’s Liz Wheatley

A FORMER shadow chancellor has swung behind striking traffic wardens, calling on the Labour council to bring the service back in- house.

John McDonnell enjoyed a union solidarity chocolate cake with other supporters at the Camden Unison picket line at the parking enforcement base in Bloomsbury last week. Camden’s fleet of wardens, who are on strike over pay and sick leave entitlement, were outsourced by the Town Hall to the company NSL.

Mr McDonnell said: “The traffic wardens were privatised by Camden Council years ago. I was on their picket lines in 2012. “They work 42.5 hours a week on low pay. They are striking for an extra £2 an hour and to have their leave entitlement the same as the council workers, which means an extra seven days.

“Some wonderful supporters brought a solidarity chocolate cake to the picket line. The traffic warden service should be brought back in house.”

NSL is owned by Marston Holdings Ltd, which also has contracts to provide bailiff services to Camden Council. Its chief executive earns around £619,000, or around £330 an hour.

Camden Unison branch secretary Liz Wheatley said the pickets were “great work” and praised support on the day from union branches, students and politicians.

A delegation of strikers will be joining the general strike in France today (Thursday).