Angela Eagle will today formally launch a leadership contest as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn vows to fight any challenge.
Promising to save the Labour Party, Ms Eagle will say: "I stand for hope not grievance. I stand for equality, for social justice, for social mobility.
"I am a practical socialist driven by a strong set of values who wants to get things done."
She will be introduced at her launch by Labour's former interim leader, Harriet Harman, who will declare: "Angela is all about Labour's team winning for working people.
"And it's long overdue for Labour, the party of Equality, to have its first woman leader.
"This country has voted to leave the EU with people now facing immense insecurity and a rising tide of xenophobia and racism, we need Angela as leader with her sights set firmly on bringing the party together and leading a coherent and determined Opposition which will be a credible party of government.
"The Tories have led the country into a mess. People are suffering. The country is searching for a way forward. The country needs Labour as an alternative government and we need Angela as our leader."
Ms Eagle has the backing of the 51 MPs needed for a formal challenge but it remains unclear whether Mr Corbyn will also have to secure the support of MPs in order to fight the leadership battle.
Mr Corbyn called on the former shadow business secretary, who quit his frontbench team in protest, to "think for a moment" before mounting her challenge.
The veteran left-winger also revealed he had taken "soundings" from lawyers and he expected to be on the ballot as the sitting leader.
Mr Corbyn insisted: "The rules in my view are absolutely clear."
He said he would be prepared to mount a legal challenge if he was left off the leadership slate.
Arguing he had been given a large mandate by Labour members, Mr Corbyn added: "I think we are a party that's going places and doing very well."
The party's National Executive Committee will decide on the rules after a contest is formally triggered.
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