Labour leadership election: Poll predicts Jeremy Corbyn win against Angela Eagle or Owen Smith

No confidence: a majority of Labour MPs want Corbyn to go
Hannah Al-Othman19 July 2016
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Jeremy Corbyn is likely to face a single challenger for the Labour leadership after his two rivals agreed that only a single "unity candidate" would run against him - but a poll of party members suggested he would still win.

Former shadow cabinet ministers Angela Eagle and Owen Smith held talks about the best way to oust Mr Corbyn, and have reached a "common understanding" about the best way to take on the party leader, who won a landslide victory last year.

The decision on which contender gives way will be made once it is clear who has the most nominations from the party's MPs, with the challenger with the least support withdrawing.

The move follows calls from senior figures, including former leader Ed Miliband, for a "unity candidate" to stand in the contest.

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."

Challenger: Angela Eagle at her campaign launch in London 
EPA

However, 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.

A poll of members indicated that Mr Corbyn would secure a resounding victory over either of his rivals.

The YouGov poll for The Times found that if all three candidates stood, Mr Corbyn would secure 54 per cent of the votes with Ms Eagle on 21 per cent and Owen Smith on 15 per cent.

If Mr Corbyn was opposed by just Ms Eagle, some 58 per cent would vote for the current leader and just 34 per cent 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 per cent for Mr Corbyn and 34 per cent for Mr Smith - but the result would still be a convincing victory for the incumbent.

Despite the chaos in the Labour ranks, the poll of more than 1,000 party members suggested that 55 per cent of members thought Mr Corbyn was doing well - up from 51 per cent at the end of June.

Contender: Owen Smith at his campaign launch in Wales
AFP

Nominations from MPs and MEPs opened on Monday evening and close at 5pm on Wednesday, but it may become clear before this time whether Mr Smith or Ms Eagle has the stronger claim to stand against Mr Corbyn.

At a hustings in Parliament Ms Eagle dodged calls by MPs to stand aside if she fails to secure the most nominations - something Mr Smith has promised to do.

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.

Anger at Mr Corbyn's leadership was evident in the Commons as MPs voted to renew the Trident nuclear deterrent system, with Labour splitting three ways. The majority backed the Government's motion, but others - including Mr Corbyn - opposed it and some abstained.

Long-standing anti-nuclear campaigner Mr Corbyn voted against replacing the four submarines which carry the missiles, despite the party's official policy being in favour of maintaining the round-the-clock deterrent.

MP John Woodcock launched a scathing attack on his leader in the House: "For the official opposition to have a free vote on a matter of such strategic national importance is a terrible indictment of how far this once great party has fallen."

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