Thurrock Labour supporters have hailed Jeremy Corbyn’s victory after he beat challenger Owen Smith in the party’s leadership battle.

In a vote taken by Thurrock Labour party members, 27 voted in favour of Jeremy Corbyn, and eight members voted for Owen Smith.

Qaisar Abbas, who is Ethnic Minorities Officer for Thurrock Labour, said party members in the borough voted “overwhelmingly” in support of Jeremy Corbyn and they had seen an increase in local party membership since the contest.

Mr Abbas said: "Thurrock Labour Party overwhelmingly voted in support of Jeremy Corbyn.

“Jeremy Corbyn got 27 votes out of 35 which show massive support for Jeremy in Thurrock. We have also seen an increase in local party membership since Jeremy’s current leadership contest.

“Jeremy Corbyn was able to mobilise hundreds of thousands of labour members across the UK and his leadership has also made the Labour Party, the Europe’s largest political party.”

“The active role of party members and thousands of new members proves that local and national party will benefit from his leadership."

Thurrock Labour chairman Colin Ricks also said party support in Thurrock had grown stronger than last time.

He said: “I voted for Jeremy before so I was disappointed with us having another election. It just

“There are probably some people who voted who for Owen who were disappointed, but there’s been none of the animosity in Thurrock that we have seen in other places.

“The majority of Labour people in Thurrock would have been happy with the result.

“What will be good for the party is that the issue has been decided one way or another and now we will be able to get on with tackling the Tory government and the Tory council.”