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| Angela Eagle says 'I’m here to win' at launch of Labour leadership bid Angela Eagle says 'I’m here to win' at launch of Labour leadership bid | |
| (2 days later) | |
| Angela Eagle has formally launched her bid to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, describing herself as “a strong Labour woman” who could heal divisions in the party and lead it to election victory. | Angela Eagle has formally launched her bid to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, describing herself as “a strong Labour woman” who could heal divisions in the party and lead it to election victory. |
| Finally beginning her campaign after weeks of speculation that she would take on Corbyn amid a revolt against him by Labour MPs, Eagle said the party needed to move beyond the factionalism and divisions of the current era. | Finally beginning her campaign after weeks of speculation that she would take on Corbyn amid a revolt against him by Labour MPs, Eagle said the party needed to move beyond the factionalism and divisions of the current era. |
| “I’m not a Blairite, I’m not a Brownite and I’m not a Corbynista. I am my own woman – a strong Labour woman,” she said, to cheers from supporters. “I’m not here for a Labour party that just takes part. I’m here to win.” | “I’m not a Blairite, I’m not a Brownite and I’m not a Corbynista. I am my own woman – a strong Labour woman,” she said, to cheers from supporters. “I’m not here for a Labour party that just takes part. I’m here to win.” |
| The long-planned launch experienced a hiccup when it coincided with Andrea Leadsom’s hastily arranged announcement that she was pulling out of the Tory leadership race. As well as rendering parts of Eagle’s speech immediately out of date, it brought a deeply awkward moment as she sought questions first from the BBC and then ITV’s political editor, Robert Peston, only to find they were not there. | The long-planned launch experienced a hiccup when it coincided with Andrea Leadsom’s hastily arranged announcement that she was pulling out of the Tory leadership race. As well as rendering parts of Eagle’s speech immediately out of date, it brought a deeply awkward moment as she sought questions first from the BBC and then ITV’s political editor, Robert Peston, only to find they were not there. |
| The former shadow business secretary, who was among dozens of Labour frontbenchers to quit in the past few weeks, said Corbyn had made a useful contribution to new ideas in the party, but should step down. | The former shadow business secretary, who was among dozens of Labour frontbenchers to quit in the past few weeks, said Corbyn had made a useful contribution to new ideas in the party, but should step down. |
| “Jeremy Corbyn is unable to provide the leadership that this huge task needs,” she told an audience of press and supporters in central London, standing in front of a pink union flag banner bearing the slogan “Real leadership”. Eagle added: “I believe I can.” | “Jeremy Corbyn is unable to provide the leadership that this huge task needs,” she told an audience of press and supporters in central London, standing in front of a pink union flag banner bearing the slogan “Real leadership”. Eagle added: “I believe I can.” |
| In another criticism of Corbyn, Eagle said: “A kinder politics must be a reality, not just a slogan.” She condemned him for refusing to engage with dissatisfied MPs, instead addressing meetings of supporters. “You have to lead in parliament as well,” Eagle said. “We’ve seen Jeremy not do that job. He’s been hiding behind a door, not talking to his members of parliament. That’s not leadership.” | In another criticism of Corbyn, Eagle said: “A kinder politics must be a reality, not just a slogan.” She condemned him for refusing to engage with dissatisfied MPs, instead addressing meetings of supporters. “You have to lead in parliament as well,” Eagle said. “We’ve seen Jeremy not do that job. He’s been hiding behind a door, not talking to his members of parliament. That’s not leadership.” |
| She took a joking swipe at Diane Abbott, a key Corbyn supporter, who had described Eagle’s leadership bid as “The Empire Strikes Back”. Eagle responded: “More like Return of the Jedi.” | She took a joking swipe at Diane Abbott, a key Corbyn supporter, who had described Eagle’s leadership bid as “The Empire Strikes Back”. Eagle responded: “More like Return of the Jedi.” |
| She said Corbyn’s leadership gave the public no confidence in Labour: “It’s about giving hope to people all over the country that Labour can be an alternative government, ready and equipped to serve. The blunt truth is, the country doesn’t believe that when they look at us right now. But they will if I win.” | She said Corbyn’s leadership gave the public no confidence in Labour: “It’s about giving hope to people all over the country that Labour can be an alternative government, ready and equipped to serve. The blunt truth is, the country doesn’t believe that when they look at us right now. But they will if I win.” |
| Eagle, who has represented the Wallasey constituency since 1992, is understood to have the backing of at least the 51 Labour MPs sufficient to get on to the ballot of members, registered supporters and unions. | Eagle, who has represented the Wallasey constituency since 1992, is understood to have the backing of at least the 51 Labour MPs sufficient to get on to the ballot of members, registered supporters and unions. |
| Corbyn secured only 40 MPs’ votes in a recent no-confidence motion against his leadership, and might struggle to get the necessary numbers. However, he could still be on the ballot as the incumbent, a decision due to be taken on Tuesday by Labour’s national executive committee, which is believed to lean in his favour. | Corbyn secured only 40 MPs’ votes in a recent no-confidence motion against his leadership, and might struggle to get the necessary numbers. However, he could still be on the ballot as the incumbent, a decision due to be taken on Tuesday by Labour’s national executive committee, which is believed to lean in his favour. |
| Corbyn won a huge mandate among Labour members in 2015, and almost 130,000 more people have joined the party since the referendum on Britain’s EU membership, many of them thought also to be Corbyn supporters. | Corbyn won a huge mandate among Labour members in 2015, and almost 130,000 more people have joined the party since the referendum on Britain’s EU membership, many of them thought also to be Corbyn supporters. |
| But Eagle dismissed the idea she might be sacrificing herself without a chance of success. “I don’t go in for suicide missions,” she said. Eagle also insisted she would not be concerned if fellow Labour MP Owen Smith also challenged Corbyn, as some have predicted. “He can do whatever he likes,” she said. “I’ll take on all comers.” | But Eagle dismissed the idea she might be sacrificing herself without a chance of success. “I don’t go in for suicide missions,” she said. Eagle also insisted she would not be concerned if fellow Labour MP Owen Smith also challenged Corbyn, as some have predicted. “He can do whatever he likes,” she said. “I’ll take on all comers.” |
| Smith has yet to say whether he will also stand, but remains critical of Corbyn and his team. On Sunday the former shadow pensions secretary tweeted that he had asked Corbyn if he wanted to see Labour split, and had got no answer. | Smith has yet to say whether he will also stand, but remains critical of Corbyn and his team. On Sunday the former shadow pensions secretary tweeted that he had asked Corbyn if he wanted to see Labour split, and had got no answer. |
| Eagle’s pitch for the leadership was very low on specific policy ideas, dealing mainly in general commitments to ideas such as social mobility and equality, and the idea that Labour needed a strong leader in the aftermath of the EU referendum. Asked what specific policies she would introduce as prime minister, she again spoke only generally. | Eagle’s pitch for the leadership was very low on specific policy ideas, dealing mainly in general commitments to ideas such as social mobility and equality, and the idea that Labour needed a strong leader in the aftermath of the EU referendum. Asked what specific policies she would introduce as prime minister, she again spoke only generally. |
| “Today, I’m announcing my decision to stand for the leadership of the Labour party,” she began. “I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I had something to offer to bring our party and our country back together. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I would be a good prime minister for Britain. | “Today, I’m announcing my decision to stand for the leadership of the Labour party,” she began. “I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I had something to offer to bring our party and our country back together. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I would be a good prime minister for Britain. |
| “These are dark times for Labour, and they are dangerous times for our country. A referendum to settle an argument in the Conservative party has resulted in the country being torn apart – our economy damaged, our society hurt.” | “These are dark times for Labour, and they are dangerous times for our country. A referendum to settle an argument in the Conservative party has resulted in the country being torn apart – our economy damaged, our society hurt.” |