But he added that the contender with the most support should become the unity candidate to take on Mr Corbyn – a view shared by senior colleagues.
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The Labour leadership challenger made these comments after a Sky News journalist said in a TV interview that Mr Smith seemed “normal”, to which the Pontypridd MP replied: “I’m glad you think I’m normal”.
Leadership rival Ms Eagle also slammed the current leadership and said that Labour was “as divided and disunited” as she can remember.
A long-time trade unionist who was brought up in a working class family in Yorkshire, Ms Eagle said she was not impressed with Theresa May’s maiden speech as Prime Minister, during which she pledged to govern for working class families.
She said there should be no legal challenge to the NEC’s decision but warned that Labour risks electoral wipeout in the north at the hands of Ukip, similar to that it has suffered in Scotland if Mr Corbyn remains leader.
Meanwhile, launching his bid to replace Mr Corbyn, Mr Smith evoked Tony Blair’s “Clause IV moment” – when the former prime minister amended the passage to remove its historic commitment to mass nationalisation.
Both Eagle and former shadow work and pensions secretary Smith represent the anti-Corbyn faction – referred to by some campaigners as the “saving Labour” movement.
On Britain’s European Union exit, Mr Smith told the BBC: “I don’t think we should accept we’re on a definite path out”.
“It was understandable when the born again Blairites were plotting against Corbyn, and then it increased into the coup last week, the avalanche”, said Mr Flynn.
Deputy leader Tom Watson said that Mr Corbyn would not be able to form a front bench even if he gains a new mandate from supporters.
The Telegraph is reporting that Eagle and Smith will announce which of them is to stand after nominations are revealed at 6pm on Wednesday.
But he said: “We need more than posturing, we need more than sloganising”.
“They joined because they want to be involved in the party and they’re not being allowed to”.
Smith gave us lots of policy to chew on, most notably his “British New Deal” – a £200 billion development fund “to rebuild physical and social infrastructure”.
“None has been undertaken by any Labour Party member as far as I am aware, and I deplore such behaviour, and would never condone that, but having said that, it is not right to conflate abuse and intimidation with refusing to call MPs to account”.
Voting on the next Labour leader has been a source of great controversy.
“I think it’s the message that Jeremy gave past year about anti-austerity and a call for a fairer and more equal society is what resonates with people beyond just party members and that has not changed, and people are very supportive of that”.
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I will settle for a caretaker leader, but hope a parliamentary seat can soon be found for David Milliband, who should have been our leader at the last general election, without losing any of our existing hardworking Labour MPs.
