THE GMB union has backed Lisa Nandy in the Labour leadership contest.

General secretary Tim Roache said: "Lisa Nandy is a breath of fresh air in the debate over Labour's future.

"The more members see of Lisa in this contest the more impressed they will be by her ambition, optimism and decisive leadership. GMB is proud to nominate her."

Nandy now needs the backing of just one more trade union or affiliated society to make the final leadership ballot having already received support from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

It comes after Jess Phillips stood down from the contest.

READ MORE: Jess Phillips quits race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Last week Nandy provoked an outcry by suggesting the UK should “look to Catalonia” for lessons on how to defeat “narrow, divisive nationalism” in Scotland.

READ MORE: Labour MP Ian Murray backs Lisa Nandy over Catalonia claims

That’s despite police violence against voters in Catalonia’s 2017 independence referendum, during which elderly women were amongst those left bloodied and since which, key pro-indy figures have been jailed.