John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Owen Smith offers the best opportunity to unite the Labour Party and lead us into government at the next general election; the decision of our Executive Council reflects that.

“Workers’ rights, pay and standards of living continue to be at risk under a Conservative Government that is taking us out of the EU; so it is crucial that we elect a Labour Government at the next general election. Our members cannot afford years of principled opposition, with a Labour Party divided and unable to secure the confidence of voters. We need Labour in government to improve workers lives and protect them from the dangers of being out of the EU and under the rule of a Conservative Government.”

Individual members of Usdaw who are also registered supporters of the Labour Party are entitled to vote in the leadership election.

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion