Despite the poll, Smith’s chances could be worse: many bookmakers give him odds of 2/1 to win the election, perhaps acknowledging that Smith will now shore up the voters who would have voted for Eagle.
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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.
Speaking to assembled journalists at Westminster, Eagle revealed she would be giving her support to Smith, saying: “I am supporting Owen… with all of my enthusiasm and might”.
Catherine McKinnell, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, said: “I am backing Owen Smith as he can provide the fresh and credible leadership Labour needs, with a resolute commitment to keeping our party together”.
Smith, meanwhile, is having to counter claims that his past as a lobbyist for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer means he advocates the privatisation of the NHS.
He has floated the idea of a new referendum on Britain’s eventual new relationship with the EU.
“I believe in a 100% publicly owned NHS free at the point of use”.
“She is a great Labour woman and I absolutely can not do without her in what will be a very hard few months”, he told the BBC.
“There must be no personal abuse or threatening behaviour, which undermines the democracy we, as socialists, cherish – democracy which I as leader will extend in our party and across the country”. In employing words like “choice” I think we allowed them to use that as a Trojan horse to try and marketise the NHS. “The people in the North East need a Labour government, and I am confident the party members will swing behind Owen for leader”.
He said he had received more than 30 phone calls from colleagues urging him to stand in the contest.
He said: “I don’t think he’s a leader in parliament, but I do think he’s got a lot to say for Labour”.
A trade union is considering legal action over the decision by the party’s ruling National Executive Committee barring an estimated 130,000 new members who joined after January 12 from voting.
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The former shadow work and pensions secretary was described by a “Corbynista” as a “TV-savvy turncoat who lobbied for Big Pharma and Tony Blair” to the Times newspaper.
