The seven Worcestershire councillors have added their names to an open letter signed by 1,000 Labour members nationwide saying Mr Smith offers the only realistic hope of a recovery for the next General Election.
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Few would be surprised and a new poll on the front page of the Times today suggests that such an outcome is highly likely.
A massive 62 per cent of those eligible to vote in the contest are backing the incumbent, with just 38 per cent set to cast ballots for challenger Owen Smith, according to a YouGov poll for The Times.
The Opposition leader, who has remained defiant in the face of a coup from his parliamentary colleagues, has majority support among all three groups that are eligible to vote in the contest – full members, registered supporters and union affiliates.
However it will do little to assuage the concerns of the 172 Labour MPs who backed a no-confidence motion in Mr Corbyn – a move which ultimately led to Mr Smith’s challenge. Considering the fierce debate that has surrounded claims that Corbyn supporters have been frozen out of the voting, such a disparity between the vote shares can only be seen as deeply alarming for Labour moderates. But the numbers are more than reversed among newer members.
Amid growing animosity between the left-wing and centrist factions of Labour, 39 per cent of those entitled to vote in the leadership election believe the party will split.
The results also show the depth of the divisions between different segments of the Labour Party.
An estimated 640,000 members and supporters have been tasked with choosing between the pair.
Voting in the contest opened last week, with a victor due to be announced on September 24, the eve of the Labour Party conference.
The poll comes as Mr Smith, who has attempted to position himself in the contest on “radical” platform, told The Independent that Labour must take a strong pro-immigration stance even if it means shedding votes to UK Independence Party (Ukip).
The Labour leader also said the party would seek to ensure increased recruitment of women into science, technology, engineering and manufacturing jobs as the party seeks to tackle “occupational segregation”.
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The poll only shows lukewarm support for the policy among Labour voters, who back it by 46 per cent to 43 per cent.
