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Labour to decide on Corbyn ballot entry Time for woman to lead Labour - Angela Eagle
(about 5 hours later)
A decision on whether Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn should automatically be included in the party's leadership race is set to be made by its ruling National Executive Committee. It is time for Labour to elect its first female leader, Angela Eagle has said, after launching a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
Labour-commissioned legal analysis states he needs nominations by 51 MPs and MEPs - just like any challenger - but unions say, as leader, he does not. The former shadow business secretary said "now" was the time, especially as the Conservatives were getting a second female prime minister in Theresa May.
Mr Corbyn has vowed to fight any exclusion from the ballot paper. Labour's National Executive Committee is to decide if Mr Corbyn should be included automatically in a contest.
Angela Eagle launched a challenge to Mr Corbyn's leadership on Monday. Unions say party rules are clear he must be able to defend the leadership.
The former shadow business secretary said she could provide the leadership "in dark times for Labour" that Mr Corbyn could not. If, however, the NEC insists that Mr Corbyn needs the nominations of 51 MPs or MEPs to stand in the contest, it could face the threat of legal action from the Labour leader.
Mr Corbyn, who was elected leader in a vote of grassroots members last year, will speak at the Unite union's policy conference in Brighton later, as the party's NEC meets in London. Labour-commissioned legal analysis states he needs the nominations - just like any challenger - but unions say, as existing leader, he does not.
Ms Eagle's leadership challenge launch on Monday was overshadowed by the dramatic and sudden change of leadership of the Conservative Party, when Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the contest leaving a clear path for Home Secretary Theresa May to succeed David Cameron to lead her party - and the country.
Ms Eagle has said she could provide "strong" leadership to "heal our country in these dangerous times", and criticised Mr Corbyn for failing to connect with Labour voters.
Asked how she would differ from Mr Corbyn as leader, she said: "I wouldn't be hid in my room, not talking to Labour members."
She accused Mr Corbyn of failing to campaign with "enough confidence" to stay in the European Union during the UK's recent referendum.
Unlike Mr Corbyn, she would not be calling for Article 50 - which must be triggered to start the withdrawal from the EU - to be signed straight away.
"That would cause chaos. We need to spend more time disentangling ourselves from the EU in a way which does the least damage. So I wouldn't rush to the exits," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
She went on to defend her tearful response in a number of TV and radio interviews after she walked out of the shadow cabinet, saying she had tried unsuccessfully for nine months to make Mr Corbyn's leadership work.
"It was just emotion that I had been unable to deliver that," she said.
"There is more than one way to be a leader and I think being in touch with your emotions is quite important.
"It was a difficult day. Politicians ought to be human beings and leaders can be human beings," she added.
Owen Smith, MP for Pontypridd and Labour's former work and pensions spokesman, has said he would consider making a rival leadership challenge.
Mr Corbyn, who was elected leader in a vote of grassroots members last year, had been due to speak at the Unite union's policy conference in Brighton but will not now do so as it clashes with the party's NEC meeting.
"The subject matter - the internal rules of a Labour leadership contest - sounds dry," says BBC political correspondent Iain Watson."The subject matter - the internal rules of a Labour leadership contest - sounds dry," says BBC political correspondent Iain Watson.
"But the decision Labour's national executive makes later today could be explosive. "But the decision Labour's National Executive makes later today could be explosive.
"If Jeremy Corbyn is forced to seek nominations from 50 fellow MPs, he could struggle to get on the ballot as only 40 of his party backed him on a motion of no confidence recently.""If Jeremy Corbyn is forced to seek nominations from 50 fellow MPs, he could struggle to get on the ballot as only 40 of his party backed him on a motion of no confidence recently."
More than 170 supported the motion, following a series of resignations from the shadow cabinet by MPs protesting at Mr Corbyn's leadership.More than 170 supported the motion, following a series of resignations from the shadow cabinet by MPs protesting at Mr Corbyn's leadership.
The BBC has seen legal advice sent to Unite by solicitors that says: "The rules by which the Labour Party is governed are unambiguous: the leader does not require any signatures to be nominated in a leadership election where there is a potential challenger to the leadership."
It is thought Mr Corbyn would struggle to amass 51 signatures because his support is concentrated in the party's wider membership.It is thought Mr Corbyn would struggle to amass 51 signatures because his support is concentrated in the party's wider membership.
The BBC has seen legal advice sent to Unite by solicitors that says: "The rules by which the Labour Party is governed are unambiguous: the leader does not require any signatures to be nominated in a leadership election where there is a potential challenger to the leadership."
The solicitors make clear that legal action will be launched unless Mr Corbyn is automatically on the leadership ballot, and they would halt any leadership election by applying to the High Court for an injunction.The solicitors make clear that legal action will be launched unless Mr Corbyn is automatically on the leadership ballot, and they would halt any leadership election by applying to the High Court for an injunction.
'I've failed'
Meanwhile, a YouGov poll for the Election Data website suggested that of 1,221 trade union members surveyed, 63% thought Mr Corbyn was doing badly as leader, compared with 33% who thought he was doing well.Meanwhile, a YouGov poll for the Election Data website suggested that of 1,221 trade union members surveyed, 63% thought Mr Corbyn was doing badly as leader, compared with 33% who thought he was doing well.
'Woman's time' Some 76% said it was unlikely that Mr Corbyn would ever become prime minister, while 69% said it was unlikely Labour would win the next election while he was leader.
Also, 76% said it was unlikely that Mr Corbyn would ever become prime minister, while 69% said it was unlikely Labour would win the next election while he was leader.
Union representatives take up 12 of the NEC seats - about a third of the total.Union representatives take up 12 of the NEC seats - about a third of the total.
Speaking on Monday, Ms Eagle said it was time for the Labour Party to elect a female leader. Deputy leader Tom Watson has told a parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) meeting that his abandoned peace talks with union leaders earlier this month had failed to close the gap between MPs and pro-Corbyn elements of the party.
She told Channel 4 News: "The Conservatives have their second woman prime minister.
"The Labour Party, the party of equality who pioneered anti-discrimination, it's about time they had their first elected woman leader."
Meanwhile, deputy leader Tom Watson has told a parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) meeting that his abandoned peace talks with union leaders earlier this month had failed to close the gap between MPs and pro-Corbyn elements of the party.
He said: "For years I've been told I'm a fixer. Well I've tried to fix this, I've really, really tried, and I've failed.He said: "For years I've been told I'm a fixer. Well I've tried to fix this, I've really, really tried, and I've failed.
"I've tried to find a way forward for the party between two apparently irreconcilable decisions."I've tried to find a way forward for the party between two apparently irreconcilable decisions.
"Clearly the vast majority of the PLP has already made it clear they wouldn't countenance a settlement that involved Jeremy staying in place.""Clearly the vast majority of the PLP has already made it clear they wouldn't countenance a settlement that involved Jeremy staying in place."