Jeremy Corbyn to face single challenger after rivals come to agreement – but poll says Labour leader would easily beat both candidates
Results from members showed veteran leftie has whopping 20 point lead over both Angela Eagle and Owen Smith
JEREMY Corbyn is likely to face a single challenger after his two rivals agree to field just one candidate in a bid to oust him – but poll says the Labour leader would easily beat either of them.
The results from members showed the veteran leftie has a whopping 20 point lead over both Angela Eagle and Owen Smith, after nominations in the contest opened last night.
The former shadow cabinet ministers have reached a "common understanding" about the best way to take on Mr Corbyn, who won a landslide victory last year, after wrangles over who should stand against him.
The decision will be made once it is clear who has the most nominations from the party's MPs, after calls from senior figures for a single "unity candidate".
But the YouGov poll for The Times shows Mr Corbyn's support within the party's membership remains strong - despite the resignations of scores of frontbenchers and an overwhelming vote of no confidence in his leadership from Labour MPs.
It showed if all three candidates stood, Mr Corbyn would secure 54% of the votes with Ms Eagle on 21% and Owen Smith on 15%.
But if Mr Corbyn was opposed by just Ms Eagle, some 58% would vote for the current leader and just 34% for the challenger.
The poll indicated that Mr Corbyn's margin of victory may be slightly narrower if just Mr Smith stood against him - 56% for Mr Corbyn and 34% for Mr Smith - but the result would still be a convincing victory for the incumbent.
Crucially, the more than 1,000 members polled had all joined the Labour party before the start of 2016, the cut-off to be able to vote in the contest, meaning it can be seen as an accurate depiction of how the vote may go.
But a source close to the leadership race said "productive discussions" had been held between the two contenders resulting in a common understanding.
Both candidates are "focussing on nominations which was always part of the process", the source said.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband was among senior party figures to call for a single challenger to take on Mr Corbyn.
Speaking at an event in Parliament he told the Press Association: "I think both Angela Eagle and Owen Smith would be excellent candidates.
"So I hope that the process is found to pick one candidate."