He told cheering supporters: “I’m sure Labour MPs will understand the party has to come together in order to present to the British people the options of a different and better way of doing things”.
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The Pontypridd MP, who cancelled his campaign launch in the wake of the terror attacks in Nice, has been given a boost after winning the support of Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens.
Mr Foster, who once stood as the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle in Cornwall, said: “I’m simply concerned that this is an important issue”.
The rules are created to stop “entryism” by short-term Labour supporters whose sole aim is to return Jeremy Corbyn to power.
Mr Smith and Mrs Eagle will go head-to-head at a special hustings debate in front of Labour MPs next Monday night. I welcome the contest ahead.
Deputy party leader Tom Watson called Foster’s legal challenge “very unhelpful and destabilizing”.
If Labour’s ruling body had agreed, Mr Corbyn might have found himself excluded from the contest – effectively sacked as leader – because he would be unlikely to find enough MPs willing to support him.
However Ms Eagle said Mr Corbyn needed to do more to stop the acts of violence and abuse.
If Mr Corbyn wins the leadership contest, there could be a split between pro-Corbyn activists and anti-Corbyn MPs – ending the Labour Party as we know it.
Ms Eagle said: “I’m glad Labour’s NEC has come to a decision”.
The Labour leadership race will formally get underway Thursday, with media reports suggesting candidates will be put to a ballot of members in August before a new leader is announced on September 24. Any party member, including £3 paying supporters and affiliated supporters from Trade Unions, each get one vote.
He insisted Labour should be committing to a second referendum, or at least a general election, once the nature of Brexit is finalised.
Mr Corbyn has publicly condemned intimidation and abuse of his opponents within the party, adding that he had faced much abuse himself.
“They feel it has betrayed the members who elected Jeremy Corbyn”.
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NEC’s ruling, however, could raise hopes for the 67-year-old Labour politician to remain in control.
