FORMER Great Britain rugby league player Garreth Carvell has come out in support for “one of the good guys” in Labour MP Tracy Brabin, campaigning with her in Heckmondwike just days before the general election.

Brabin won the Batley and Spen seat three years ago following the horrific murder of Jo Cox to far-right terrorist Thomas Mair.

Carvell took part in a football tournament to support the Red Card campaign last year, hosted by Brabin and said that at a recent hustings, comments from an independent MP about the Muslim community left him no choice but to join Brabin on the campaign trail.

Carvell said: “I have come out to support Tracy because I have met her a number of times and she believes in a fairer more equal UK. She is one of the good guys.

“I attended the Batley hustings and was shocked to hear some of the comments made by the independent candidate who condemned the Muslim community in Batley for allegedly not speaking out against terror attacks.

“Two members of the Muslim community who were present explained that they had been on several TV programmes and had condemned the attacks. 

“I was shocked to witness his bad-tempered reaction to their replies and disappointed to see his supporters jeering and shouting.”

Since hanging up his boots, Carvell is now a project worker for the Rugby League Players Association which has the might of the trade union GMB behind it.

He made almost 350 appearances during a 19-year career with Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC and Warrington Wolves and drew comparisons to playing the sport with positive teammates and the Labour’s positive policies.

Carvell continued: “Rugby is a team sport, players look out for each other and that’s the only way to succeed, you can draw comparisons with life. 

“If you have a team member who is constantly a negative influence then that impacts on how the team plays. 

“Positivity beats negativity every time. Labour’s message of hope for those less fortunate, for our NHS, levelling up society for the many not the few.”

Ms Brabin is being challenged this time by independent, Conservative, Lib Dem, Green and Brexit Party candidates and said that only under a Labour government would Britain see a “real change.”

“It’s great to have Garreth’s support here in Batley and Spen,” she said. “His achievements on the rugby field are well known to many local people.

“People like Garreth, and so many others, recognise that only the Labour Party has a plan for real change for our NHS, schools and restore community policing.” 

“I am proud to have been running a positive campaign and I hope that the people of Batley and Spen will recognise that on December 12.”