The Leeds Central MP gave his backing to Angela Eagle’s leadership challenge as Owen Smith formally launched his campaign today.
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Most of the leader’s critics in the party believe there must be only one “unity candidate” to run against him or the pair risk splitting the votes of moderate members who will select the victor.
To allow a three-horse race would risk splitting the vote, giving Mr Corbyn a better hope of retaining his leadership.
He said: “Let’s be very clear about this, there’s been some idle talk in some newspapers”.
He said: “That (nominations) is one way in which we can do it, or we can make an agreement between ourselves”.
“We are not going anywhere and in the end eventually this problem will be sorted out”.
The NEC has also decided that Labour members who joined after January 12 must pay a £25 fee to vote for the next leader. “But I don’t think he really believed it”.
THE city’s Labour party has been suspended by its national bosses over safety concerns for its members in the wake of last week’s executive elections.
Former shadow Commons leader Chris Bryant said Mr Smith was the “only person ” who could bind the party together.
The two would-be contenders were said by observers to have achieved a score draw at their first hustings in packed lunchtime meeting of MPs and MEPs, which was an unhappy experience for Mr Corbyn.
So we not only have the best opposition to the Tories imaginable, but get this rotten government out and return Labour to power.
‘If I’ve got anything to do about it, never on my watch will this party split.
Mr Corbyn called for the contest to be a debate about the party and the country and said he wanted it to be an example of “vibrant political discussion “.
For me that means a Labour government doing traditional Labour things: investing in our communities, investing in public services, investing in the infrastructure we need – schools, hospitals, new roads.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) issued new guidance saying children and young people should see a specialist immediately if a GP suspects the condition.
Mr Smith, who joins Angela Eagle in challenging Jeremy Corbyn, said an “overhaul” of the tax system was needed to make it more “progressive”.
But in a sign that Mr Corbyn’s support within the party’s membership remains strong despite the resignations of scores of frontbenchers and an overwhelming vote of no confidence in his leadership from Labour MPs, a poll indicated he would secure a resounding victory over either of his rivals.
Ms Eagle borrowed Theresa May’s famous 2002 description of the Conservatives as she called for action from the Labour leadership on “abuse, misogyny, homophobia (and) anti-Semitism” affecting the party.
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Speaking to BBC’s Andrew Marr Show the next day, the Labour leader said he had “reached out in a way no other leader has” in an attempt to unite all parts of the party.
