A LABOUR Party branch in Worcestershire is calling for unity amid its leadership crisis - suggesting the turmoil has gone too far.

The West Worcestershire branch has contacted Jeremy Corbyn's deputy leader Tom Watson to urge the party to focus on a "five-point plan" based around Brexit.

The branch, which has grown significantly in the last two years despite starting virtually from scratch, says the Conservatives have been swift to resolve their leadership issue despite it still dogging Labour.

The plan urges Labour to criticise the Government over "its lack of planning for the effects of the Leave vote" and "oppose any further austerity" arising from Brexit.

It also calls for Labour to agree to protect employment legislation post-Brexit, "affirm the party's opposition to racism of any kind" and focus on young people looking to find work and buy homes.

John Gallagher, from the branch, said: "In this period of political turmoil there are significant aftershocks reverberating around the Labour Party and Conservatives as a consequence of the referendum.

"The Tories have resolved one problem, the successor to David Cameron and Labour is now in the throes of a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn.

"However the country faces the most serious challenge of all, which is to negotiate a new political and trading relationship with the EU and other counties in the rest of the world."

The note has been sent to other Labour figures including Ellie Reeves, vice-chair of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee and Councillor Chris Bloore, a Worcestershire county councillor who sits on the party's national policy forum.

The challengers to Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, Angela Eagle and Owen Smith, will face a parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) hustings event tonight where they will set out their stall to fellow MPs.

It comes as the party's is braced for a potential challenge over new rules for the leadership contest.

Mr Corbyn has criticised "unfair" changes which bar members who have joined since January 12 from voting and called for party officials to "see sense", suggesting he may mount a legal challenge.

The move effectively blocks more than 100,000 members who have joined the party since the EU referendum unless they sign up as registered supporters for £25.