Labour turmoil as Jeremy Corbyn urges supporters to pay up to vote form him in leadership contest
Leader made the plea in a video posted on twitter
JEREMY Corbyn has urged his supporters to pay £25 each in a “desperate bid to cling on to power”, it emerged last night.
The Labour chief recorded a 30-second video urging “Corbynistas” to stump up the fee so they can vote in the upcoming party leadership contest.
It was posted on the Twitter feed of hard-Left group Momentum but deleted within minutes.
Mr Corbyn is preparing to face Angela Eagle and Owen Smith in a run-off and applications for £25 registered supporters — up from £3 — can be made in a 48-hour window from tomorrow evening.
The move to record the video is a sign Corbyn is worried, it was claimed.
Challenger . . . Eagle
Labour MP Wes Streeting said: “This highlights his desperation to cling to office in the face of overwhelming opposition from MPs, a growing number of party members and the majority of trade unionists affiliated to the party.”
Challengers Mr Smith and Ms Eagle are under pressure to decide which of them should take on Mr Corbyn as a “unity” candidate.
They face Labour MPs in a hustings tomorrow at Westminster with nominations opening in the evening.
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Both candidates need 51 names but sources say Mr Smith now has more than 100 backers.
One MP said that if neither is willing to drop out this week one should stand aside later if they lack support while canvassing.
Labour donor Michael Foster is taking legal action to keep Mr Corbyn off the ballot paper.
