“On BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Corbyn said he had “reached out in a way no other leader has” in an attempt to unite all parts of the party”.
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She also failed to outline her policy differences with Mr Corbyn – but argued she wanted to fight for the leadership on the issue of electability.
Mr Corbyn has refused to step down since losing the support of most of his MPs in a vote of no confidence.
“This country has voted to leave the European Union with people now facing vast insecurity and a rising tide of xenophobia and racism we need Angela as leader with her sights set firmly on bringing the party together and leading a coherent and determined Opposition which will be a credible party of government”.
Former shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith has been touted for a possible bid alongside Eagle.
Our Political Editor Robert Peston said the contest is “highly likely to culminate in the break-up of the party”.
Speaking to ITV’s Peston on Sunday, Ms Eagle – a former Northern Ireland Office minister – said Mr Corbyn had not been able to “communicate with the electorate” and “he’s now lost the confidence of the parliamentary party”.
Corbyn said yesterday that he was “disappointed” that Eagle was launching a bid, but said she was “free to do that if she wishes to”. There are also questions about whether the party’s rule book would even allow him to stand without enough backing from his members of parliament. “There is an area of agreement I have with Diane Abbott this morning when she was talking about whether there was going to be a split in the Labour Party”.
But Eagle faces a backlash from her constituents in Wallasey, Merseyside, after the local Labour party passed a motion of support for Corbyn last week.
She told Labour MPs and supporters: “Everything we’re proud of – from the NHS, to the minimum wage, to equality legislation which has civilised our society – is there because we were in Government”.
The party’s National Executive Committee is expected to make a decision on the exact rules, but there is a possibility it could end up facing a challenge in court.
The conflict hinges on whether he is considered a “potential challenger” and must seek the support of 20 percent of the MPs, or can automatically be on the ballot by default, since he is the incumbent. Leadership candidate Andrea Leadsom sparked a furor when she suggested in an interview with the Times that being a mother might make her a better prime minister than her rival, Theresa May.
“But I would be irresponsible if I walked away from a mandate that I was given and a responsibility that I was given”.
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‘I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I could be a good Prime Minister for Britain, ‘ she said.
