Awkward moment Angela Eagle takes questions from emptying room of journalists

Sebastian Mann11 July 2016
WEST END FINAL

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This was the excruciating moment Labour leadership hopeful Angela Eagle tried to take questions from reporters - after they had abandoned her launch to cover Andrea Leadsom instead.

The challenger formally announced her bid to oust Jeremy Corbyn at a press conference in Westminster on Monday.

But as she was outlining her vision for the future of the Labour party, it became clear Ms Leadsom was pulling out of the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Journalists scrambled from Ms Eagle's launch event in an effort to cover the news that Home Secretary was to effectively become the next Prime Minister unchallenged.

It meant when Ms Eagle took questions, many of the reporters she had expected to ask quiz her were missing.

Angela Eagle arrives for her launch in Westminster on Monday (Dominic Lipinski/PA )
Dominic Lipinski/PA

To watching TV cameras, the MP for Wallasey said: "I'm going to take a few questions from our friends in the media.

"I don't know you all yet can you please tell your name and where you're from?

"Can we start with the UK media, I think. Is there anyone from the BBC?"

After a long awkward pause, she followed up with: "BBC anyone? OK, Robert Peston, where are you?"

Ms Eagle's leadership challenge marked an escalation in the Labour Party's vicious civil war, which has pitted the majority of Labour MPs against Mr Corbyn, who insists he has the support of party members.

Launching her campaign, she said: “I am not here for a Labour Party that just takes part. I’m here to win.”

Ms Eagle denied being part of any faction, saying in a speech in London: “I’m not a Blairite. I’m not a Brownite. I’m not a Corbynista. I am my own woman, a strong Labour woman.”

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