A MAJORITY of Labour councillors in Britain’s 150 most marginal seats are backing Jeremy Corbyn to become the party’s next leader.

The results of a poll of 250 Labour councillors published yesterday by Anglia Ruskin University’s labour history research unit (LHRU) put Mr Corbyn ahead for the first time.

Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham led the field in two previous polls of the same councillors, conducted in June and July.

But a 5 per cent surge in support for the leftwinger has seen him leapfrog his rivals.

Mr Corbyn is now supported by 30 per cent of councillors, compared to 29 per cent for Ms Cooper, 28 per cent for Mr Burnham and just 13 per cent for Liz Kendall.

“With Jeremy Corbyn on the verge of victory, it is clear that a belief in ‘Corbynomics’ runs beyond the man himself and into the Labour grassroots,” said Dr Richard Carr of LHRU.

There is also overwhelming support for many of Mr Corbyn’s flagship policies.

Creating a publicly owned energy supplier is backed by 78 per cent of councillors, while 77 per cent support nationalising the railway network as soon as practicable.

Dr Carr added: “The bookies’ favourite will find clear support among Labour councillors for his stances on railway nationalisation, intervening in the energy market and a higher top rate of tax.”

Asked whether they thought Mr Corbyn could win the general election, only 20 per cent of councillors believed he could beat the Tories in 2020.

This question was not, however, asked about any other candidate, so perceptions about his performance cannot be compared.

Councillor Kevin Price

Cambridge City Council’s executive member for housing explains why he and his colleagues are giving their support to Jeremy Corbyn.

JEREMY got my vote the instant he made it onto the ballot paper, but other councillors have felt that he has made the best case for the future of the party during the campaign. I know of at least one colleague in Cambridge who has switched from Andy Burnham.

As executive councillor for housing, I note that Jeremy has been consistent about the need to solve our housing crisis by building more council homes.

And he has regenerated politics more broadly. He’s reached out well beyond Labour councillors to ordinary members of the public, who have become energised by his campaign. Labour membership in my ward and Cambridge as a whole has doubled.

I’m voting for him because I think he gives us the best chance of winning the next general election, since he’s clearly captured the mood of the public and is making Labour a movement again.