Jarrow Labour stalwart backs '˜stitched-up' Corbyn to win power struggle

Under-pressure Jeremy Corbyn has won the backing of political figures in Jarrow.

Mr Corbyn resisted calls from scores of his own MPs to quit his post in the wake of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and will now be part of an upcoming leadership contest.

The Labour Party’s ruling national executive committee decided his name should automatically appear in the leadership contest triggered by former shadow minister Angela Eagle, with another former Corbyn cabinet member, Owen Smith, also joining the race for power.

Wilf Flynn has thrown his support behind Jeremy Corbyn.

Hebburn South councillor Wilf Flynn, who is secretary of Jarrow Constituency Labour Party, has joined the town’s MP Stephen Hepburn in offering his support to Mr Corbyn.

Coun Flynn said: “I will be voting for Jeremy Corbyn, he has been the victim of a political stitch-up

“We could have torn into the Tories at that point but nobody expected the party to implode like this. He should have the chance to contest the next general election.”

Coun Flynn says he will extend invite to all labour leadership hopefuls to speak to constituency members in the weeks to come.

South Shields’ Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck was unavailable for comment on the leadership contest.