Wednesday 13 July 2016 1:37 pm

Labour contender Angela Eagle is making a pledge to keep campaign “comradely” after allegations Jeremy Corbyn tacitly endorsed bullying

Labour leadership challenger has called for a friendly debate with competitors as incumbent Jeremy Corbyn was accused of tacitly endorsing bullying of Labour staff.

On the day that Owen Smith announced he would be running for the Labour leadership, Eagle said she wants a "comradely" debate.

At the launch of her "Keep it Comradely" pledge, the former business secretary said: "This is my clean campaign pledge, I'm going to sign it today and I hope that all of the other candidates in the leadership election, and their supporters, party members up and down the country, will sign up to that pledge."

The pledge says that those who sign it will act in the interest of the party and country; take action against abusive action; oppose demonstrations outside other candidate's homes, office or events; allow members to express views free from the fear of intimidation; and unite at the end of the contest to fight the Conservatives.

Today I'm pleased to sign the #KeepItComradely pledge. I hope all candidates and others will do so too pic.twitter.com/o4sdceWnY8

— Angela Eagle DBE (@angelaeagle) July 13, 2016

A National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Johanna Baxter, said that Corbyn had endorsed intimidation of Labour staff by voting against a proposed secret ballot, labelling the NEC meeting "an utter disgrace to our movement", the Guardian reported.

Yesterday the NEC ruled that Corbyn would be able to stand without having to garner 20 per cent of support from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) of European Parliamentary Labour Party, equivalent to 40 MPs.

The NEC voted 18-14 in favour of letting him stand.

The decision yesterday followed a bid by former business secretary Angela Eagle in the wake of a no confidence vote by the PLP in Corbyn.

A timetable for the contest will be announced tomorrow.