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The Bristol Labour councillors backing Owen Smith
Four Labour councillors in Bristol have put their names to a letter supporting the party’s leadership challenger Owen Smith.
Craig Cheney, Hillfields councillor, member of mayor Marvin Rees’ cabinet and the city’s finance boss; Fabian Breckels, councillor for St George Trooper’s Hill; Mike Davies, Ashley ward councillor; and Tom Brook, councillor for Bishopston & Ashley Down, signed the open letter.
The letter, signed by 500 councillors across the country aiming to topple Jeremy Corbyn, says: “There are militants in both wings of our Party who are determined to carry out a civil war against each other, whether it harms working people or not.
“We have intimidation and bullying in Constituency Labour Parties up and down the country.
“We have those who seem to prefer perpetual division to the job of winning power for the good of those we represent. We need a unifying leader who is principled and competent.”
Although only four have gone on the record, the final number of Bristol Labour councillors supporting Smith is likely to be much higher. Councillors supporting Corbyn are yet to put their names to a public letter.
The letter comes as new research showed some 60 per cent of Labour councillors in marginal constituencies will vote for Smith in the Labour leadership contest. However, the research also found the councillors thought that 37.7 per cent of their members would still vote for Corbyn.
Pictured from left to right: Mike Davies, Fabian Breckels, Craig Cheney and Tom Brook
Read more: Corbyn PR back in Bristol to work with mayor
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