by Luke James and
Peter Lazenby

LABOUR MPs behind the coup against Jeremy Corbyn are facing an angry backlash from grassroots activists who overwhelmingly support the party leader.

The majority of Labour’s MPs backed a vote of no confidence in Mr Corbyn on Tuesday in a bid to force him to resign from the post just nine months after he was elected with 60 per cent support.

But Mr Corbyn retains huge support outside the corridors of Westminster — including in the constituency of one of the favourites to stand against him in a new leadership election.

Members in Angela Eagle’s constituency said yesterday that her decision to cast a vote of no confidence against Mr Corbyn flew in the face of their views.

A letter to Ms Eagle from the Wallasey CLP secretary shows that, at a meeting on Friday, members mandated her to “reject the motion of no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn.

“The meeting was overwhelmingly behind Jeremy continuing as Labour leader,” it notes before asking her to “make a clear public statement of support for him.”

Mike Smith, a councillor at the meeting, said: “The room was very strongly behind Jeremy Corbyn, 40 people were there and the majority definitely behind him.”

“The infighting needs to so be stopped. We need to sort that as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity to attack the Tories and we’re missing it at the moment.”

In another blow to Ms Eagle (pictured), polling for Queen Mary University revealed yesterday found that 64 per cent of Labour members who have joined since the general election would vote for Mr Corbyn in a new leadership election.

Derbyshire Dales was among other CLPs which have expressed confidence in Mr Corbyn.

Local member Rosemary McKenzie said: “We are all supportive of Jeremy.

“I’m a headteacher and it is not all about one person showing leadership. Jeremy has the vision and he needs the team around him to help.”

The right-wing Labour First faction has distributed its own model motion for members to push for a vote of no confidence within their local parties.

A group of 77 Labour councillors, including some who voted for him, has also distributed a letter urging Mr Corbyn to “make way for the new leadership.”

But 240 councillors across Britain hit back and signed a letter to the Parliamentary Labour Party expressing their “dismay” at the attempt to “oust our democratically elected leader.”

Calderdale District Councillor Dave Young said that since Jeremy Corbyn was elected Labour leader 400 people had joined the Labour Party in his ward, tripling its membership.

The letter states: “Our enemy is not Jeremy Corbyn — it is the Tory Party and its plans to use the EU referendum as a fig leaf to inflict further cuts to the councils we represent.”