Owen Smith tells Corbyn to ‘grow up’ over Trident as he urges Angela Eagle to pull out of race
Smith has up to 90 MPs supporting him compared to Eagle's 40
OWEN Smith today told Jeremy Corbyn to "grow up" over Trident as he tried to muscle Angela Eagle out of the Labour leadership race.
The Labour leadership contender said he would be joining around 100 MPs on his side of the house in backing the Government's bid to renew the country's nuclear deterrent.
Mr Corbyn, a lifelong member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, is opposing fresh investment in Trident.
Despite saying he was "as radical as Jeremy Corbyn", Mr Smith told Sky News: "I was a teenager when I was a member of the CND and I have long since grown up and I now know that I don't think we can afford to divest ourselves of nuclear weapons right now.
"Or at least I don't think we would make the world a safer place if we were to do that."
Ahead of a Commons debate on renewing the nuclear deterrent, Mr Corbyn said: "I've been involved in peace transformation all of my life, and I think we've got an opportunity to show leadership in the world."
But in a direct appeal to Mr Corbyn’s strong support among the Party grassroots, he set out “pro-prosperity” plans yesterday including £200billion investment for schools, transport links and hospitals.
Nominations for a place on the ballot to challenge the hard-left leader open at 7pm today after hustings of the Parliamentary Labour Party at lunchtime.
Former shadow work and pensions secretary Mr Smith is said to have the backing of up to 90 MPs to Ms Eagle’s 40. Former shadow business secretary Ms Eagle announced she was running last week.
Corbyn coup plotters agree their best chance of defeating the Islington MP is to field one unity candidate. They fear having two challengers on the ballot paper will hamper efforts to persuade Corbyn's grassroots to switch their support.
Mr Smith has suggested only one rival candidate should run and should be decided by who wins the support of most of the Party's MPs.
In a sign that Mr Smith is emerging as a genuine threat, Mr Corbyn’s key ally John McDonnell called for a woman to be on the ballot paper.
“There’s reports today that there’s attempts to bully Angela off the ballot paper,” he told Sky News.
“I think that’s unacceptable. We’ve got to have a range of candidates.”
RELATED STORIES
Meanwhile Mr Corbyn has threatened to sue the Labour Party over an attempt to rig the leadership election rules. Under new rules introduced by the Party’s ruling body more than 130,000 members who have joined in the last six months will be unable to vote.
Those who joined Labour as a “registered supporter” for just £3 last summer to vote in the previous leadership contest will also be banned.
Mr Corbyn said: “I hope our party officials and our national executive will see sense on this and recognise that those people that have freely given of their time and their money to join Labour should be given the opportunity to take part in this crucial debate.”
How does Labour leadership contest work?
Each challenger must be backed by 20% of Labour MPs and MEPs - currently 51
Labour leader is automatically included on the ballot paper
Labour Party members, registered and affiliated supporters vote through a postal ballot or a secure electronic vote in order of preference.
If there is no winner after round one of counting, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and the votes are redistributed.
This happens until one candidate reaches more than 50%.