Rebel Smith struggles to keep up with Corbyn

Evidence is growing that the rebel Labour MPs who tried to oust Jeremy Corbyn as Leader of the Labour Party are out of touch with their party members and the country.

Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) are showing strong support for Corbyn: 59 have nominated him, with only 15 supporting the challenger Owen Smith (according to the New Statesman).

Eight of the CLPs which have nominated Owen Smith backed Yvette Cooper last year and two backed Liz Kendall – the two leading right wing contenders in last year’s election. One did not nominate last year. Four CLPs backed Jeremy Corbyn last year – including the Tower Hamlets constituency of Bethnal Green & Bow and the Newham constituency of West Ham.

The CLPs nominating Jeremy Corbyn include those which did not make a nomination last year or nominated Yvette Cooper or Andy Burnham. This seems to show that Corbyn is winning supporting from Labour members who were fairly indifferent last year, from those who backed a mainstream candidate – and from those who supported a right wing candidate. Corbyn’s nominations include the Poplar & Limehouse constituency in Tower Hamlets, as well as Romford.

So far, two major trade unions have formally nominated Corbyn: construction workers’ union UCATT and communication workers’ union the CWU. UCATT explained it wanted a Labour Leader who represented “the millions, not the millionaires”.

The Socialist Health Association (SHA) has nominated Owen Smith. It’s a small group, affiliated to the Labour Party as a Socialist Society, and is generally thought to put forward fairly timid policies in support of the NHS. One of its former directors was John Biggs.

Leader Jeremy Corbyn and challenger Owen Smith are both addressing rallies around the country. Although most people going along will be Labour supporters, clearly not all are members. Jeremy Corbyn has been called “unelectable” by Smith’s supporters – but Corbyn seems to be attracting much larger crowds.

Smith drew a tiny crowd in Liverpool

In recent days, Smith has attracted a crowed estimated at between 30 and 50 in Liverpool. Corbyn drew a crowd in Hull which the local papers described as attended by 3,000 and “the biggest political rally in 20 years”. A similar number came to a Corbyn rally in Leeds – with 1,000 supporters who could not fit in to the venue organising an impromptu meeting outside.

Smith has recently criticised Corbyn for not joining him on a Channel 4 News programme, where the two could have had a short head to head debate. Corbyn turned down the invitation on the grounds that he had already agreed to speak to a rally in Liverpool – the city where Smith attracted the crowd of well under 100. As Corbyn’s rally due to a close, the local paper estimated that 10,000 people had braved the rain to come along and see the Labour Leader.

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