LABOUR members in two more constituencies in Hampshire have thrown their backing behind embattled leader Jeremy Corbyn.

With Mr Corbyn facing a challenge to his leadership by Owen Smith, both the Southampton Itchen and Eastleigh Constituency Labour Parties (CLP) have voted to support him in the contest.

It follows a recent vote by the Southampton Test CLP, where members also backed Mr Corbyn.

Mr Corbyn was elected as party leader by a landslide last year, but has been attacked by critics within the party over his leadership and allegations he was “lukewarm” in his support for the campaign to keep the UK within the European Union.

Former Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle had also launched a bid to challenge Mr Corbyn, but dropped out of the race to allow former Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Smith to stand as his sole rival.

CLPs across the country are voting on who they want to be leader, and the Itchen CLP voted for Mr Corbyn, with 46 votes cast for him as opposed to Mr Smith’s 14.

In Eastleigh 38 members of the CLP voted for Mr Corbyn compared to 15 for Mr Smith.

Shere Sattar, press secretary for the Eastleigh CLP, said there were “more people than usual” at the meeting, saying he believed the result showed that Mr Corbyn was the “clear favourite”.

Cllr John Jordan, spokesman for the Southampton and Romsey Labour Party, said: “Turnout was very high for an Itchen branch meeting - more than double the usual level of attendance.

“It shows that local members are very engaged in the leadership debate.

“Regardless of the outcome of the leadership contest, I’m really looking forward to seeing our re-energised and growing membership helping to get the Labour message across to voters on the doorstep.”

It comes as the High Court decided in favour of five party members who had challenged the party National Executive Committee’s decision not to allow anyone who joined after January 12 from voting unless they paid an extra £25.

The party yesterday confirmed it will appeal against the decision.

Bookies have slashed Mr Corbyn’s odds of retaining the leadership even further as a result of the ruling.

The leadership contest is set to end on September 24, but Mr Smith has requested an extension.