JEREMY Corbyn has backed the Evening Times campaign to save Jobcentres in Glasgow.

The UK Labour leader told the DWP to “back off” and abandon its plan to shut seven city Jobcentres and another in Cambuslang.

Speaking in Glasgow, Mr Corbyn addressed the issue of the proposal to close half of the city’s Jobcentres.

He said the services are necessary and should be in local communities.

Asked if he backed the campaign to halt the closures, Mr Corbyn said: “I do support the campaign and I oppose these closures.”

He warned the DWP not to go ahead with the plan that has attracted opposition and criticism across political parties and throughout civic Scotland.

He said: “I call on the Government to back off. Don’t close these Jobcentres. They are necessary for the people in every community in Glasgow, in Scotland and elsewhere.”

Mr Corbyn said the DWP services must be reformed, particularly in relation to the controversial work capability assessments, but warned the local nature of the Jobcentres must be retained.

He said: “We don’t want the absurdity of work capability tests creating dangerous situations leading to people talking about taking their own life.”

He said Labour would end the “absurdity” of medical advice being ignored when people are told they are fit for work.

The Labour leader said the government had a “Responsibility to deliver services to all people to maintain the principles of the welfare state and to advise people how to get into work.”

He added: “If you take away local jobcentres you are diminishing the service.”

The DWP plans to close Jobcentres in Anniesland, Bridgeton, Castlemilk, Easterhouse, Langside, Maryhill and Parkhead and one in Cambuslang. It will cut the number in Glasgow from 14 to seven.