Turning Jeremy Corbyn’s “kinder politics” catchphrase against him, Ms Eagle said that Labour needed “a kinder politics in reality” and must not end up “in the gutter”.
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The former shadow business secretary triggered the leadership contest by gaining the necessary backing of 51 MPs to mount a challenge.
Mr Smith repeatedly praised Mr Corbyn’s influence on the party but spoke of the need to create a “radical but credible” movement.
He told supporters in his Pontypridd constituency: “We know, Jeremy knows, he said it, it’s a disgrace”.
I n an email to party members, Ms Stevens wrote: “During the past two weeks it has become painfully obvious that we have been unable to fulfil the very basic day to day operation as the official opposition in Parliament. She’s easy to hold to account, but we have to have a functioning party to do it, which is why I’m doing this”. Is it going to reduce inequalities in wealth, in power, in outcomes and opportunities, or is it not?’
He said members wanted to show their support for Mr Corbyn but were not attacking local MP Ruth Cadbury, who was among 172 MPs to back a vote of no confidence against him.
A long-time trade unionist who was brought up in a working class family in Yorkshire, Ms Eagle said she was not impressed with Theresa May’s maiden speech as Prime Minister, during which she pledged to govern for working class families.
Mr Smith insisted he could continue carrying Mr Corbyn’s torch of fighting for social justice and economic reform while also being able to “heal the party”.
Angela Eagle is supported by Kevin Brennan, Nia Griffith, Stephen Kinnock and Stephen Doughty.
“We need more than posturing, we need more than sloganising”. But our crisis in the Labour party is in truth reflective of a deeper crisis we face in society.
Labour risks becoming the “new nasty party”, leadership candidate Angela Eagle has warned.
“It can not happen, it will not happen”, he said.
The former shadow work and pensions secretary will say: “It is not enough for the Labour Party to simply talk about being anti-austerity”.
“It won’t split because we can not afford it to split and, more important than that, working people in this country can not afford the Labour Party to split”.
“All Labour Party members and supporters should conduct themselves with a high standard of behaviour”.
He also told The Sunday Mirror “there may be a legal move” on the rule changes.
Ms Eagle said she was inspired to enter politics in the 1970s by long serving Labour MP Barbara Castle, who she says “cut a swathe of glamour” through Parliament.
He was speaking ahead of a PLP hustings on Monday night where the leadership contenders will set out their stall.
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Asked how the pair would decide who commands the most support and take on Mr Corbyn, he suggested the candidate with the largest number of nominations could be the challenger.
