LABOUR Party members in part of Southampton have backed Jeremy Corbyn to continue as party leader.

Southampton Test Constituency Labour Party (CLP) voted for the current head of the party to remain in his seat after more than 170 of his MPs opposed him.

The CLP voted 64 to 54 in favour of Corbyn over rival Owen Smith.

So far, across the country, seventy constituencies have made supporting nominations – 14 for Smith and 56 for Corbyn.

Although the nomination has no direct weighting on the result, they do provide an early indication of how the candidates are faring amongst party members.

The current leadership contest between Corbyn and Smith will conclude with a conference on September 24.

Perry McMilan, press officer for grassroots organisation Momentum's Southampton branch, said the vote shows people want socialist policies.

“People are voting for Corbyn because they are voting for a different type of politics.

"It is politics that deals in policy and the agenda of working class people and those in trade unions.

“That is what terrifies the establishment in the party.

“At the end of the day the fact remains that it was the largest meeting of the Test for a long time which shows something in itself.

He added: “Corbyn represents the socialist values that a lot of people believe in.

“It is not about some Corbyn cult, but about policy. People are looking for a change. It is an exciting time.”

Cllr John Jordan, spokesman for the Southampton and Romsey Labour Party, said: "Members of the local party are clearly very engaged in the leadership contest, as the high turnout showed.

"Jeremy Corbyn won, but only by a small margin, which suggests that the leadership vote itself is likely to be a very close-run thing."

Support is also set to be swelled this week with a rally organised Momentum Southampton, a pro-Corbyn group.

The event will take place from 7pm at The Brook, Portswood Road, Southampton, where those in support of the leader will gather.

Members of the Southampton Itchen group have also backed a motion to support the Labour leader in the upcoming election and on Thursday they will be holding a similar vote to their Test counterparts.

It comes just a few months after Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead stood down as shadow energy and climate change minister as part of a mass exodus from the party’s front bench, calling on Mr Corbyn to consider his position, before saying he would back Angela Eagle’s campaign – which ended last month.