Smith warns over Labour’s “dire” poll ratings but praises Corbyn’s win

Owen Smith today told Jeremy Corbyn that Labour must turn round its “dire” poll ratings if it is to compete against the Tory Government.

The Welshman paid tribute to the man who beat him with a “clear win” and “decisively” but said the leader had to heal divisions in the party and connect with voters who appear to be walking away from Labour.

Smith based his campaign on a policy-heavy platform with a similar anti-austerity attitude to that of Corbyn but said he was better-placed to deliver an effective Opposition and earlier this summer decried the leader as “useless”.

Today the challenger said he had entered the race because he feared Corbyn wasn’t “providing the leadership we needed” and because the party had to “renew”.

Smith is expected to return to the backbenches having resigned from the shadow Cabinet in the summer revolt and then saying that he could not serve under Corbyn again.

He pledged loyalty to Labour, however, and warned members against considering a breakaway and said now was the time for the party to “stick together”.

“I have no time for talk of a split in the Labour movement – it’s Labour or nothing for me. And although today’s result shows that our movement remains divided, it now falls primarily to Jeremy Corbyn, as Labour Leader, to heal those divisions and to unite our movement.

“We have to turn round our dire opinion poll ratings and take on this right wing, failing Tory Government. Jeremy has won this contest. He now has to win the country and he will have my support in trying to do so.

“Above all, despite present divisions, we have to stick together in for the long term. I call on those party members disappointed by the result and tempted to look elsewhere to stay with Labour and to stay involved. Let’s work together to renew this movement and take the fight to the Tories.”