Late yesterday, Corbyn won a first victory over his critics after the party’s executive committee ruled he would automatically be included on the leadership ballot.
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Many of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet members have resigned and publicly stated they had no confidence in his leadership.
Eagle is challenging as she feels Corbyn would not be an effective challenger to the Conservative Party in a General Election. I welcome the contest ahead.
Ms Stevens added: “I want to let you know I will be supporting Owen Smith”.
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”.
Owen Smith is seen as a soft-left alternative to Jeremy Corbyn who has ambitions of becoming a “radical and credible” Labour Prime Minister.
However, the former solicitor has now had a change of heart and told supporters she will back Mr Smith in the leadership contest.
He immediately became the bookmakers’ favourite to become the next Labour leader, followed by Wallasey MP Ms Eagle, despite largely staying out of the limelight after saying he would stand this morning. If Mr Corbyn, who retains strong support among the rank-and-file members, is re-elected, the party may split.
Mr Smith and Angela Eagle are jostling for position, having both declared their candidacies to challenge Mr Corbyn.
Southport Labour has welcomed the decision to allow Jeremy Corbyn onto the ballot in the forthcoming Party leadership election.
He went on: “I think there are many people out there who voted in good faith for Brexit and who felt they were doing the right thing for their families and their communities and I respect them for taking that decision”, he said.
“Certain groups within the party published my personal contact details online; one of my colleagues has just recently had a stalker sectioned – she was in tears, she begged the leader for a secret ballot to protect her and also other colleagues who had received intimidating and bullying behaviour”.
“The Labour Party must pull through this crisis and unite, we owe it to the millions of people across Britain, who look to the Labour Party to provide hope and optimism for their lives”.
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In Bolton, North East MP David Crausby and several senior Labour councillors have joined voices calling on Mr Corbyn to resign – although union bosses and many local members disagree.
