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Survey shows councillors in marginal seats backing Owen Smith over Jeremy Corbyn

Sarah Champion resigned in June, claiming the leader’s position was no longer tenable as the Parliamentary Labour Party turned on Mr Corbyn.

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But the Rotherham MP has now returned to her post as a shadow home office minister, focusing on women, equality and domestic violence issues.

The spokesman said: ‘There’s always work to be done.

“She is very passionate about her brief and we have got a job to do opposing the Government and obviously we are very pleased to be welcoming her back”, they said.

Although Mr Corbyn filled the gaps in the shadow cabinet by appointing replacements, several politicians have had to double up by taking on two portfolios while many middle-ranking and junior positions remain unfilled.

She said at the time: “I have just stepped down from my shadow minister job, but not my responsibilities to my constituents, party or victims of abuse”.

However, despite this, many reported belief that Corbyn retains strong support among party members, and just over one in four said they believed that their local members would also back the Pontypridd MP’s leadership bid. Many of them fear that a Corbyn triumph in this leadership contest is nearly inevitable.

“Put plainly, there is simply too much of it taking place and it needs to stop”.

But Mr McDonnell said the office manager concerned had simply been checking whether Ms Malhotra had moved out of the office after quitting the front bench last month in protest at Mr Corbyn’s leadership.

“But I don’t know enough about the details”.

The university’s Labour History Research Unit asked 350 councillors in the 125 seats most narrowly won and lost by Labour at the 2015 general election.

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The resignations followed a no confidence vote in Mr Corbyn among MPs and were an attempt to force him to step down.

Owen Smith is challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership