Owen Smith, the former shadow Welsh secretary, is also on standby to launch a challenge, both claiming they can unify the fractured party.
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Yesterday, Labour’s National Executive Committee ruled that Corbyn should automatically be in the contest, an issue which had caused much controversy after some MPs had insisted he should be subjected to the same criteria of requiring the support of 51 MPs and MEPs.
After the NEC decision, the Opposition leader said: “I’m sure Labour MPs will understand that 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”.
So whether it is foolhardy stubbornness or admirable determination, Mr Corbyn has done what he always said he would do, stay on to honour what he sees as an iron clad mandate from the membership.
However, he says he has lost “faith and confidence” in Mr Corbyn’s ability to lead the party effectively and attacked some of the leader’s allies, labelling them “part of the problem”.
“We did it thanks to you, because all of you created a climate of opinion which gave courage to our representatives on the NEC”, said McDonnell, according to The Guardian.
She said: “I’m more optimistic about it than that, I’m looking forward to the challenge, I’m looking forward to discussing the ideas that we need to debate so that we can put our party in the strongest possible position”.
Challenger Eagle said a beleaguered Corbyn had been “hiding in his room”, telling the BBC he should “do the right thing” and step down. I think we now need a real debate about the future direction of our party. However, he remains popular with Labour members who will be able to vote in the contest, making him favourite to win for the second time.
Nominations for the election close on July 20, and there is a two day window between July 18 to 20 for people to pay £25 to register to vote in the contest, with ballot papers being mailed from August 22.
Owen Smith will seek to topple Jeremy Corbyn and replace him as leader.
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.
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“I’m not prepared to stand by and let the Labour party – the party I love and that has been the greatest force for good in this country – split”.
