Eagle: Corbyn “will have to find nominations” for leadership ballot

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The challenger for the leadership of the Labour party has said Jeremy Corbyn will not have a place on the ballot paper in the contest without the support of MPs.

Angela Eagle has said Corbyn will need the 51 nominations to run in a leadership contest, appearing on ITV's Peston on Sunday show, and that he was "not a leader".

Read more: Labour leadership battle heads for Sunday morning TV

The former shadow business secretary who resigned along with nearly the entire shadow cabinet is expected to launch a formal bid for the leadership on Monday.

She said of Corbyn's leadership: "I don't think he's been able to communicate with the electorate and he's now lost the confidence of the parliamentary labour party."

"He will have to find nominations. I am ready to have a leadership contest and a debate with whoever’s on the ballot," she said saying it was a matter for Labour's National Executive Committee to "set out the terms of this battle."

Read more: Corbyn "disappointed" over Eagle leadership bid, insisting "I worked flat out" for Remain

However, her remarks about the ballot are in stark contrast to Corbyn, who has said that after taking "soundings from lawyers" that he would appear on the list of contenders as the incumbent leader. "The rules in my view are very clear," he said appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday morning.

"I really think the time is now for him to consider his position," said Eagle. Watch clips of what she said below.

Former shadow chancellor and Labour MP Ed Balls said Eagle's leadership bid was "essential" as Corbyn "can't do the job", appearing on the same show on Sunday morning.