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Bakers pull Watson support

BAKERS’ union BFAWU withdrew its support for Tom Watson’s deputy Labour leadership bid yesterday after he abstained on a vote over Tory welfare cuts.

The Labour-affiliated union said the West Bromich MP had “let down” its low-paid members now facing cuts to working tax credits.

National president Ian Hodson told the Star: “Abstaining doesn’t help our members at all.

“We expect him to stand up for our members and we feel he let us down last night. There’s no going back from that.”

BFAWU’S announcement came amid a furious backlash over the refusal of the Labour frontbench to vote against the Work and Welfare Reform Bill. 

All four of Mr Watson’s rivals abstained on the final vote along with every leadership candidate — with the exception of Jeremy Corbyn.

Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper had spoken out against the position but argued they were bound by collective responsibility.

But Mr Hodson said: “They have got a collective responsibility to their constituents and to those people who are looking for a Labour Party and government representing the interests of, not just big business and the media, but working people. This will be a huge boost to Jeremy’s campaign. He’s now someone who doesn’t just talk about opposing austerity, he’s actually doing it by deed, isn’t he.”

The bakers’ union confirmed they would not support any other candidate for deputy.

Mr Watson’s only union endorsement now comes from train drivers’ union Aslef.

Mr Watson’s office didn’t respond when contacted by the Star.

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