Labour leadership race: Owen Smith wins backing of steelworkers’ union Community

Owen Smith has won the backing of a trade union for the first time since he challenged Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of the Labour Party.

Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of the steelworkers’ union Community – which is engaged in a battle to save 15,000 at the threatened Port Talbot steel works – described Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership as a “significant barrier” to getting a Laboiur government elected.

He praised Mr Corbyn’s rival for being “radical and pragmatic” and urged other union leaders to back the challenger.

The endorsement came less than 24 hours after the two contenders went head-to-head before an audience of Welsh Labour party members in the first hustings of the leadership campaign, in Cardiff. During the debate, Mr Corbyn vowed to fight to keep Port Talbot open, but steel union leaders fear he will never be in a position to deliver on the promise.

Mr Rickhuss said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership now presents a significant barrier to a future Labour government. He very plainly cannot lead a party and his continued presence as Labour leader makes our ability to build an election-winning, social movement, the likes of which was saw in the late 90s and early 00s, harder not easier.”

Referring to the challenger, Mr Smith, Mr Rickhuss said: “In a short space of time he has laid out detailed plans to make workplaces fairer and more prosperous.

“He has shown a real understanding of what an active industrial strategy should look like. Owen clearly has incredible ambition in his plan for Britain while recognising the fundamental need for Labour to be trusted with the nation's finances.

“Owen's comprehensive policy platform is matched with an energy and enthusiasm that is currently sorely lacking within our party's leadership.

“I hope that other trade unionists will join us in supporting Owen's leadership campaign. We have a responsibility to ensure the political wing of our movement is not left impotent and that our members do not have to endure another generation of Conservative rule.”

Community has traditionally been one of the more right wing unions, whose leadership was close to the former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. Last autumn, Community’s representative Lauren Crowley, was ousted from Labour’s National Executive Committee, a move that helped give Jeremy Corbyn a majority on that body.

Four other unions, the Communication Workers’ Union, the construction workers’ union UCATT, and the rail unions Aslef and TSSA have backed Mr Corbyn.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of the biggest union, Unite, is also an enthusiastic supporter of Mr Corbyn, but the recently retired boss of the GMB, Sir Paul Kenny, told LBC earlier in the week that he would be voting for Owen Smith because he believes that Mr Corbyn is incapable of winning power.