Unison leader: Jeremy Corbyn speaks ‘the language of hope’

In a further boost to his Labour leadership campaign, left-wing MP Jeremy Corbyn receives the backing of Unison.

Announcing the decision to recommend Mr Corbyn to their members, Unison’s General Secretary Dave Prentis told Channel 4 News that Jeremy Corbyn spoke up for the low paid workers Unison represents: “he talks our language.. his language is the language of hope”.

In an earlier statement the union said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s message has resonated with public sector workers who have suffered years of pay freezes and redundancies with too many having to work for less.”

The union’s leaders nominated Yvette Cooper as their second choice.

Mr Prentis added “today’s decision is a recommendation and our members are of course free to cast their vote as to who they think should lead the Labour Party.”

Earlier in the month Mr Corbyn received the backing of the Unite union, which nominated Andy Burnham as its second preference. The leaders of the country’s biggest union said that Mr Corbyn was the candidate whose policies are most closely aligned to the union.

Unite gives Labour £1.5m a year and affiliates half a million of its 1.4 million members to the party.