DOZENS of Gwent Labour councillors have signed a letter backing Owen Smith as the new party leader.

The Pontypridd MP will go head-to-head with divisive leader Jeremy Corbyn in a leadership contest next month.

And now a letter backing Mr Smith for the position has been signed by 1,000 party members, including 44 from Gwent.

Among them are eight from Newport, 10 from Torfaen, three from Monmouthshire and 23 from Caerphilly. No councillors from Blaenau Gwent have added their names.

The letter, published at labourlist.org, praised Mr Smith for his "tenacity and skill" in campaigning for working people.

"The stakes couldn’t be higher," it said.

"Our country faces an existential threat from nationalists and poor-bashing Tories.

"A new Scottish referendum is on the horizon. This is no time for Labour to keep fighting itself."

It added: "Our party needs a leader who can win and is principled.

"That’s why we need your support in backing Owen Smith."

Lliswerry ward member on Newport City Council Cllr Allan Morris was one of those to add his name to the letter.

He said: "I will be supporting Owen Smith because I believe that out of the two candidates he is the one most capable of persuading non-Labour Party members to vote Labour.

"Both men have very good qualities but in my opinion only one of them can provide a Labour government at a time when lots of ordinary families are suffering as a direct result of Tory policies."

Torfaen County Borough Council member for Abersychan Cllr Giles Davies also added his name, saying he believed Mr Smith had "consistently shown the ability to take on the Tories effectively."

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"To change anything we need a Labour government," he said.

"Owen Smith offers credible, radical policies and will in my view be the strong leader we need to lead us to victory in the next general election."

Caerphilly County Borough Council member for Pontllanfraith Cllr Gez Kirby also signed the letter, saying he believed Mr Smith had the "vision, policies and leadership skills to win non-Labour voters over to us at the next election".

"Jeremy Corbyn’s great contribution has been to move Labour to a left, anti-austerity perspective," he said.

"But he lacks popular support and the ability to lead our Labour parliamentary team.

"My constituents in Pontllanfraith and people across south Wales need a strong Labour opposition and a credible Labour government in waiting.

"Owen Smith will deliver for Labour, for working people and for Britain.”