He shares Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-austerity policies, but he will still find it tough to win over the party members.
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“We did it thanks to you, thanks to you because all of you created a climate of opinion which gave courage to our representatives on the NEC who voted 18 to 14 for Jeremy to be on the ballot paper”.
Amid complaints from MPs about threats and online abuse, a member of Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) said Mr Corbyn had failed to do enough to stop it.
Ms Eagle, who represents the Wirral seat of Wallasey, has already gathered the 51 nominations from MPs and MEPs required to get her name onto the ballot that will go to members.
“All other leadership candidates will require nominations from 20 percent of the PLP and EPLP”, the spokesperson added.
That’s the cost of becoming a “registered supporter” allowing people to take part in the ballot.
Last year, shortly after Corbyn won an overwhelming mandate from Labour party members, Foster stood at the back of a Labour Party conference fringe meeting in Brighton shouting: “Say the word “Israel, ‘ say the word ‘Israel, ‘” after Corbyn addressed LFI supporters”.
Smith said Corbyn had led the party to the brink of disaster.
The leadership race was triggered by a challenge to leader Jeremy Corbyn from former Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle, which came after mass resignations from Corbyn’s top team and a no confidence vote in his leadership.
Labour’s former work and pensions spokesman Owen Smith is also considering a bid.
“The widespread belief now in the Labour party that whilst Jeremy is a good man with great Labour values who has done a lot for this party and I think changed the debate in this country about our economy, he’s been right about lots of things”, he said.
“The fact he did so shows the contempt with which he views the majority of elected Labour MPs”, said Mr Blenkinsop.
It did make the provision that new members or those who had joined in the last six months could vote if they paid a £25 membership fee on two days next week.
Mr Corbyn said in a video statement: “It’s about the future of this country”.
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Corbyn called for calm in the wake of the attack on Eagle’s office, urging all sides of the bitter dispute in the Labour party to avoid violence and threatening behaviour.
