The Birmingham City Council led by the Conservative party has become the first council or local authority in Britain to cut jobs and outsource them to India, sparking protests from employee unions.

Reacting to the council's move, Unite union national officer Peter Allenson said: "This is an outrageous decision and Unite will fight tooth and nail to stop this Tory-led council from exporting valuable jobs overseas.

"We fear that this could be just the beginning and other councils could follow suit. Thousands of public sector jobs could go. Once these jobs go they will not come back."

Reports from Birmingham said that up to 100 posts are to be transferred to India by the end of the year.

The posts to be outsourced to India are with Service Birmingham, a joint venture between Birmingham City Council and the management firm Capita. (PTI)