Tom Watson has said anyone seeking to remove him as Labour’s deputy leader should “bring it on”.
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His comments are, however, unlikely to convince critics such as former leader Lord Kinnock, who has said he fears that he will never live to see another Labour government if Mr Corbyn remains leader.
“We think that [they] join a union not because they support Corbyn but for all the reasons you join a union”, said one individual on the campaign.
“It’s an attempt to further cement his position and use the membership as a means of driving a wedge between the MPs and his leadership. Jeremy wants a debate at the NEC to discuss that”.
“It isn’t a conciliatory gesture”.
Today’s NEC agenda will also include whether to make anti-Semitism and racism from members a disciplinary offence after lobbying from the Jewish Labour Movement.
An agreement between the two parties means it is possible to be a member of both groups, and a total of 26 MPs now sit in parliament on a joint Co-op/Labour ticket.
“It felt like it was a turning point for the whole party and I’m very confident now that we can reunite”.
His plan would prevent £20 supporters, most of whom are thought to be backers of Mr Corbyn, from voting unless they became full party members or trade unionists. The interviews suggested Momentum members were sometimes advised to be “discreet” about their affiliation during the leadership election.
“There are issues of democracy that have to be addressed”.
Further talks will now take place ahead of the next NEC meeting on Saturday, at the party’s conference.
It comes after Mr Smith said Labour was “sleepwalking towards an electoral disaster” which could tear it apart if Mr Corbyn remains leader.
She told the Murnaghan programme: “Party members already have a say in our national policy forum, in consultations”.
I think you’ll begin to see that play out, particularly in local elections next year and after that.”He added: “I’ve been at political rallies all my life, of various sorts”.
Mr Smith has warned that Labour would be “decimated” if Mr Corbyn is re-elected.
Mr Corbyn also hit back at criticism from senior Labour MP Alan Johnson, who has called the current leader “incompetent”, “useless” and “incapable”.
“If Labour party members re-elect me that will be my second mandate in a year, from a hugely increased membership”. They weren’t of the same politics.
“We created a new category of member – a registered supporter – that was pretty unpopular in all sections”.
Jeremy Corbyn-backing activist group Momentum is to launch a nationwide initiative to help boost the political involvement of children and their parents or carers.
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Leadership front-runner Mr Corbyn has already said he is ready to “reach out” to Labour MPs critical of his leadership if he retains power on Saturday, when the result is announced.
