MEMBERS of the largest union to represent shipyard workers have backed Owen Smith as Labour leader in a consultative ballot.

The GMB, the third biggest affiliated to the party, asked its 600,000-plus members if they wanted to support Mr Smith or Jeremy Corbyn.

The vote was 60 per cent in favour of Mr Smith and 40 per cent for Mr Corbyn.

Around 30,000 GMB members are eligible to vote in the leadership election, but the union wanted to gauge the feeling of all its members.

The GMB represents workers on the Trident nuclear weapons programme.

General secretary Tim Roache said: "The Labour Party is at a crossroads. I'm under no illusions that we're living through dangerous political times - the like of which I haven't seen during my three decades in our movement. It's time for us to face up to reality.

"GMB balloted our members because this kind of decision shouldn't be taken from up on high.

"We're a democratic organisation here to serve our members' interests. I was determined that our members would have their say, and they've had it.

"I'll proudly campaign alongside Owen in the coming weeks and months to deliver on his pledges to end the public sector pay freeze, to support defence workers, to invest in health and industry, and to build an industrial strategy - these are bread and butter issues for the people I represent."