Labour leadership crisis: Angela Eagle to stand against Jeremy Corbyn

Mark Chandler10 July 2016
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Angela Eagle will stand against Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership and is due to outline her plans on Monday.

The MP said she will confirm a bid for the leadership on Monday morning, claiming she will "explain my vision for the country and the difference a strong Labour Party can make".

Ms Eagle, the former shadow business secretary, thanked Tom Watson, Parliamentary Labour Party chairman John Cryer, chief whip Rosie Winterton and the union movement for trying to find a solution to the crisis.

She described Mr Corbyn as "a leader who has failed to fulfil his first and foremost duty, that is to lead an organised and effective Parliamentary Labour Party that can both hold the Government to account and demonstrate we are ready to form a government in the event of a general election."

A spokesman for the party leader said he would fight any challenge. He said: "Jeremy Corbyn has reached out to Labour MPs and made clear he wants to work with them to carry out his role as elected leader of the party.

"Jeremy regards the talks with trade union leaders as a vehicle to bring people together, and it is disappointing that some have walked away from them.

"Jeremy is committed to fulfilling all his responsibilities as democratically elected leader and will not betray the hundreds of thousands of people who elected him for a different direction for the Labour Party and a different kind of politics.

"He continues to be fully committed to working with the Parliamentary Labour Party and is ready to talk with as many people as necessary to assist that process, discussing policy initiatives and listening to ideas.

"He will remain leader of the Labour Party and will contest any leadership challenge if one is mounted."

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson had earlier pulled out of peace talks with the trade unions aimed at breaking the deadlock between Mr Corbyn and his MPs because "there is no realistic prospect of reaching a compromise" while the leader remained determined to stay in place.

Mr Corbyn, who was attending the Durham Miners' Gala, urged colleagues to unite in opposition to the Government.

He told Sky News: "Our union colleagues, who do a great deal to support the party and whose members do a great deal to support the party at ground level, want our party to come together, want our party to come together to oppose what the Tories are doing.

"I urge all my colleagues to listen very carefully to them and indeed come together to oppose what this Government is doing to the most vulnerable within our society."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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