Mr Corbyn called for the contest to be a debate about the party and the country and said he wanted it to be an example of “vibrant political discussion “.
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It is thought that Owen Smith, who has put himself forward as the “unity” candidate, has the support of about 90 MPs, well above the 50 he needs to get himself on the ballot, and reputedly more than have signed up for the more experienced Angela Eagle.
Most of the leader’s critics in the party believe there must be only one “unity candidate” to run against him or the pair risk splitting the votes of moderate members who will select the victor.
Ms Eagle said: “I’m glad Labour’s NEC has come to a decision”.
Michael Foster, who has given the party £400,000, said he was anxious rules had been bent so Mr Corbyn could defend his position without support from MPs.
Smith said Britain and the Labour party were in crisis.
The Leeds Central MP gave his backing to Angela Eagle’s leadership challenge as Owen Smith formally launched his campaign today.
She told MPs: “When it comes to bricks and windows, the Labour Party I know uses bricks to build homes and opens windows on a more tolerant society”.
However, Ms Eagle, who triggered the leadership race last week after Labour MPs passed a vote of no confidence in…
By positioning themselves in that way, they think they could potentially be acceptable to both wings of the party.
At a hustings in Parliament Ms Eagle dodged calls by MPs to stand aside if she fails to secure the most nominations – something Mr Smith has promised to do. Its values and goal are in my blood, and I am striving to ensure that we have a leader who is a persuader, not just a protester.
But the decision to suspend constituency meetings means members of Swansea West Labour Party, who were due to meet tonight and hold a similar vote, will not now go-ahead. I will bow to no one in terms of my socialist belief, my heroes are Nye Bevan and Keir Hardie, great Labour titans.
In a BBC interview, Shadow Education Secretary Angela Raynor refused seven times to commit to voting for Mr Corbyn in the leadership election.
The commitment drew immediate comparisons with Tony Blair’s “Clause IV moment” – when the former prime minister controversially amended the passage to remove Labour’s historic commitment to mass nationalisation in 1995 – in a move that was seen as bringing about New Labour.
“So I welcome a range of candidates, a year ago I nominated Angela Eagle for deputy because I wanted her on the ballot paper”.
He said: “My offer is that in me you have someone just as radical as Jeremy”.
She said it is “too early” to talk about the issue and told the show’s host “we are not going to do a deal here on your sofa”.
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“We can not present ourselves as a government in waiting without leadership and a leadership team that commands the respect and support of not only members.but Labour voters and potential Labour voters”.
