A Labour councillor has hired an unpaid intern to help her do council work despite her party’s leader having signed a pledge against unpaid internships.

Lambeth Councillor Leanne Targett-Parker, from Herne Hill, recently advertised for an unpaid position on the We Love Herne Hill website (welovehernehill.org.uk), for an intern to start in December.

Coun Targett-Parker, who works as a barrister, was looking for someone to handle casework enquiries, conduct research, attend meetings, deal with correspondence, local campaigning, updating the website and drafting campaign literature in exchange for a travelcard up to zone 3.

Mr Miliband signed a statement backing fairer internships and rights for interns before being elected Labour leader.

The pledge stated: “I pledge that if I am elected leader of the Labour Party I will campaign for Labour’s Minimum Wage Act to be fully enforced so that employers must pay their interns what they are due.”

The statement, initiated by Intern Aware, found unpaid internships were a “major and growing cause of inequality”.

When contacted by the Streatham Guardian, Coun Targett-Parker defended the move.

She said: “In an ideal world it would be lovely if every person was on paid employment.

“The reason why I have advertised for this job is because I want to do the best I can for the people who have elected me and I believe for people who are unable to find work it gives them a very good, tailored, hands-on experience and chance to improve their CVs and to raise the bar.”