LABOUR leftwingers have won two more selection victories in constituencies where right-wing Labour MPs have resigned in the past year.

Candidates backed by the left of the party won resounding victories in both Bury South and Penistone and Stocksbridge on Thursday night.

In Bury South, the former seat of Ivan Lewis – who resigned over frustrations about the handling of his sexual harassment process among other issues – constituency party chair and disability rights campaigner Lucy Burke easily defeated her rivals.

The Morning Star understands that Ms Burke, who was backed by Unite, Unison’s north-west region, the GMB and other unions, won with 131 votes out of a total of 189.

Meanwhile, in Penistone and Stocksbridge, Sheffield councillor Francyne Johnson was selected to replace Angela Smith, who was a Labour MP until she defected in February to help form The Independent Group (TIG).

Ms Johnson, a community worker, was publicly backed by Momentum and Unite, as well as by fellow Yorkshire MPs and leftwingers Richard Burgon and Jon Trickett.

The Star understands that she won 65 of the 80 votes cast.

So far, left-backed candidates have won in all the defectors’ seats where selection votes have been held, with trade union militant Mick Whitley chosen in Birkenhead, retail worker Navendu Mishra picked in Stockport and Centre for Labour and Social Studies president Sam Tarry successful in Ilford South.

Mr Lewis is expected to stand again in Bury South, while Ms Smith – who has now quit TIG – will contest the Tory safe seat of Altrincham and Sale West for the Liberal Democrats.