Jeremy Corbyn has threatened to sue his own party if he is blocked from standing in the leadership contest following a challenge by Angela Eagle.
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He told the BBC: “I’m expecting to be on the ballot paper because the rules of the party indicate that the existing leader, if challenged, should be on the ballot paper anyway”. Not Corbyn. That’s because to him, his far-left causes, which stand virtually no chance of being realized, are more important than is the future of the Labour Party.
But his opponents say the document’s wording means Mr Corbyn will also require the support of MPs and MEPs to stand – which, given his loss of the no confidence vote last month by Labour MPs by 172 votes to 40, means he is unlikely to be on the ballot.
It is not yet known whether Mr Corbyn will be automatically allowed onto the ballot paper or whether he needs to secure nominations.
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A Labour Party spokeswoman said Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) has not yet agreed the rules for a leadership contest.
She argued despite his principles, the party under Corbyn was not “communicating with our voters” and stressed her northern working class roots as well as her experience with “metropolitan things”.
“Smith is seeking crisis talks with Corbyn as he claimed the leader and his allies are prepared to split the party in order to remain in place”.
“I have got life experience and values”. If Labour are not prepared to do that, then, he says, there is no point in changing leader.
“I urge all my colleagues to listen very carefully to them and indeed come together to oppose what this government is doing to the most vulnerable within our society”, Corbyn said at a miners’ event earlier this week.
Eagle, 55, was one of a slew of shadow cabinet ministers to quit Corbyn’s top team in protest over his European Union referendum performance and in reaction to the left-winger sacking Hilary Benn as shadow foreign secretary.
Ms Eagle is expected to submit a letter to the party’s general secretary Iain McNicol later today, singed by 51 of her supporters in the Parliamentary Labour Party.
“I will consider my next steps after that meeting”.
Corbyn is thought to have the support of Labour members, meaning that he is likely to win the leadership battle if he appears on the ballot.
Corbyn was chosen as Labour leader a year ago on a wave of support from the party’s most left-wing activists.
Mr Davies said he is “still trying to keep an even keel but it’s getting more difficult”.
Corbyn arriving at BBC Broadcasting House in London. People are suffering. The country is searching for a way forward.
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“I think she’s the Empire Strikes Back candidate – she voted for Iraq, she voted for tuition fees”.
