AN MP has blamed his party leader for the loss of a Labour seat on a North-East council following a by-election.

Conservative candidate Jacob Young secured his seat on Middlesbrough Council after achieving a eight per cent swing in the polls from the previous election for the Coulby Newham ward.

And Tom Blenkinsop, a fierce critic of the party leader Jeremy Corbyn, spoke out after the Tory victory in Thursday night’s election.

Mr Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: “We lost due to the leader’s name being mentioned on the doorstep as the reason why residents were not voting Labour.

“And I am certain this is not just the case here but across boroughs and constituencies the length and breadth of Great Britain.”

He tweeted an apology to the losing Labour candidate, writing: “So sorry for @UKLabour candidate Annalise Higgins @anna1ise in #CoulbyNewham. Let down by the far left. As ever. Time for new leadership.”

Speaking to the Guardian, Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, dismissed his Labour colleague’s claim.

“Jeremy was on Teesside to campaign a couple of weeks ago, and he got an absolutely fabulous reaction,” he said.

Asked about the loss of the seat, he said: “I am loath to read too much into that. We know that the Tory party ploughed an awful lot of effort into that. They thought they were in with a chance to win it.”

The by-election was called after he resignation of Labour ward member Councillor John Cole.

It was fought by Emma Alberti, of the Green Party; Independent Mike Allen; Labour’s Annalise Higgins and Tory victor Jacob Young.

The newly elected councillor, who is born and bred in Middlesbrough, believes the town is ready for new political vision.

He said: “I’d like to thank the people of Coulby Newham for putting their faith in me. I will work hard to represent everyone in the ward, whether they voted for me or not.

“This election result is a sign that people in Coulby, and Middlesbrough in general, know that there is a real alternative to the same old Labour councillors in the town hall and that is the local Conservatives.

“People want the councillors to be local, present and active in the community.

“I’m a Middlesbrough lad, born and bred, and I am keen to help groups like the Friends of Fairy Dell, that are really making a difference and need the support of their local councillors.”

The result leaves the Labour-led council with a majority of councillors and as well as the town’s Mayor.