Jeremy Corbyn: Labour leader may seek legal challenge as Angela Eagle launches bid

Mark Chandler10 July 2016
WEST END FINAL

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Jeremy Corbyn has insisted he will fight for the Labour leadership and suggested he might go to court if MPs try to exclude him from the contest.

Speaking to ITV's Peston on Sunday programme, challenger Angela Eagle said Mr Corbyn would need to get enough nominations to be included in the ballot.

Labour's general secretary Iain McNicol has reportedly received advice that, even as the current leader, Mr Corbyn would need 51 signatures from MPs and MEPs.

Ms Eagle said: "I have got the nominations I need to challenge Jeremy. I am happy for other people to try to get nominations."

She told the programme her leadership bid was "a battle for a healed and united Labour Party" and said of Mr Corbyn: "He's not a bad man, he's not a leader though. He doesn't connect."

But, speaking on BBC One's Andrew Marr show this morning, the Labour leader said he was "disappointed" by Mrs Eagle and insisted he would appear on the ballot paper.

Mr Corbyn said: "I'm expecting to be on the ballot paper because the rules of the party indicate that the existing leader, if challenged, should be on the ballot paper anyway."

He added: "The rules and my view are absolutely clear. I have taken soundings from lawyers I will be on the ballot paper."

Responding to Ms Eagle's decision to launch a challenge he said: "I'm disappointed, but obviously she is free to do that if she wishes to.

"We have worked together in the past nine months in the shadow cabinet and this is an opportunity when we could be putting enormous pressure on this Tory government."

He added: "She resigned from the shadow cabinet, we had a conversation after she announced her resignation from the shadow cabinet and I would ask her to think for a moment.

"This is the opportunity for the party to unite against what the Tories are doing, to put forward an agenda which is different to the austerity agenda being put forward by the Tories and actually gain a lot of ground.

"We now have a very large membership, over half a million people are members of our party.

"They have joined for a reason and they want to see a party that is active all the time opposing what this Government is doing."

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