Corbyn said he was “delighted” with the NEC’s decision.
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A veteran of the party’s left, Corbyn was elected Labour leader with 59.5 percent of the membership vote last September.
Corbyn said he was “delighted” at the result of the secret vote, which backed him by 18 votes to 14, and emerged triumphant from the talks to cheers from supporters.
“I think with party balance there’d be other people they’d be putting on instead of you, wouldn’t they, rather than me”, Wood shot back.
“Jeremy offers something that British political life has not seen in some time, a genuine desire to build a fairer society where everyone is valued and everyone has the chance to make the most of their talents”.
Angela Eagle, who has already announced she will challenge Mr Corbyn for the leadership, said: “I’m glad the NEC has come to a conclusion”.
“I have been subject to abuse on social media from members of the party who turned up to our movement nine months ago and who have barely lifted a finger for the party since”.
While a growing number of MPs oppose Corbyn, he commands the popular support of party members and supporters.
Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, said Mr Foster’s challenge was “very unhelpful and destabilising to the Labour Party”.
“As someone who has also received death threats this week and previously, I am calling on all Labour party members and supporters to act with calm and treat each other with respect and dignity, even where there is disagreement”, he said.
Labelling current leader Jeremy Corbyn anti-austerity without an alternative, Mr Smith will pledge to invest the money into the UK’s “failing infrastructure”.
Eagle said she was pleased the NEC had reached a decision.
“However, If the circus of three fights to the end, I will not play any part because I think it risks splitting the party forever”.
He added that the present situation where most MPs had lost confidence in their leader “forces people like me to put our hats in the ring to say I can heal the party”. I don’t want Labour in the gutter.
Labour’s internal strife has also fuelled tensions among its supporters.
Delegates at the union’s conference in Brighton passed a motion demanding the controversial move which MPs opposed to embattled leader Jeremy Corbyn fear would be used to launch a purge against them.
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“It is bullying. It has absolutely no place in politics in the United Kingdom and it needs to end”, Eagle said about the incident.
