West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson calls for Labour to rally around leader as Jeremy Corbyn split continues

The MP for West Bromwich East, a front runner in election for party deputy, has also emerged as a clear favourite of constituency Labour parties (CLPs) in the West Midlands.

He won the backing of 23 of the region's CLPs, compared with just two supporting Caroline Flint, one backing Stella Creasy and none supporting Angela Eagle or Ben Bradshaw.

Mr Watson said his fellow politicians had a 'duty' to work with whichever of the four candidates tops the leadership poll next month.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin and Wolverhampton North East's Emma Reynolds have both been critical of Mr Corbyn and warned the party cannot win the 2020 election if he is leader.

Mr Watson has not backed any of the four leadership contenders - Mr Corbyn, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper or shadow care minister Liz Kendall - but said he would work with any of them.

He said: "For the first time in our history, Labour is genuinely a members-led union.

"They are the ones who decide who the leader of the Labour party is.

"Whoever of the four candidates wins, our MPs have a duty to work with them to ensure our members get the Labour victory they want in 2020 have a united team in Parliament."

There have been suggestions that the vote could be open to abuse by Tories who sign up and pay the £3 fee choosing Mr Corbyn as well as hard-left campaigners who also want him to lead the party.

Mr Watson said: "I have encountered very little abuse of the system.

Harriet Harman (the acting leader) has announced different measures of verifying applications.

"As well as the £3 supporters there are thousands of new fully paid up members of the Labour party and it undermines their support to say they are only in it to vote for a single candidate."

He said he was 'not taking anything for granted' despite emerging as the clear favourite to become deputy leader.

Whoever wins, he said the first task had to be 'unite the party and start the difficult process of convincing the electorate that we can have a progressive and fair country under Labour'.

CLP nominations closed yesterday and across the country 174 backed Mr Watson, 64 backed Ms Flint, 32 supported Ms Eagle, 77 supported Miss Creasy and 20 backed Mr Bradshaw.

In the West Midlands it meant Aldridge-Brownhills, Dudley North, Dudley South, Halesowen and Rowley Regis, Warley, West Bromwich East, Wolverhampton North East, Wolverhampton South East, Wolverhampton South West, Wyre Forest.

He is also supported by North Shropshire CLP.

Ms Creasy only has the backing of Telford in the West Midlands while Ms Flint is supported by Rugby and Stratford-on-Avon.