JEREMY Corbyn has managed to narrowly survive a vote that could have lost him the leadership of the Labour Party.

The decision last night by the ruling National Executive Committee could see Labour in the surreal position of taking itself to court as factions within the party challenge the ruling.

It could even split into two separate political parties.

It was another long and bitter day in Labour’s bloody civil war.

Angela Eagle, who has challenged Corbyn for the leadership, was forced to contact police after a brick was thrown through her office window, and a hotel where she had organised an event received threats.

Corbyn himself said he had received death threats in the last week.

He appealed for calm, as tempers and passions run high over the future of the party.

The NEC, the 32-member board who rule Labour, held an emergency meeting to discuss the party’s rules over leadership that were revised during Ed Miliband’s time as leader.

Under those rules Eagle was able to challenge Corbyn for the leadership after securing the support of 51 fellow MPs, roughly 20 per cent of MPs.

The NEC had to decide if Corbyn should be allowed to be on the ballot for any leadership contest automatically, or if he would need to also to show the support of 51 MPs.

Though popular with grassroot party members, many of whom have joined to support Corbyn, he can, at best, only muster the support of 40 Labour MPs.

Yesterday, the NEC voted 18-14 in a secret ballot to allow the leader to automatically be on the ballot.

A Labour party spokesman said last night: “The NEC has agreed that, as the incumbent leader, Jeremy Corbyn will go forward on to the ballot without requiring nominations from the parliamentary Labour party and the European parliamentary Labour party. All other leadership candidates will require nominations from 20 per cent of the PLP and EPLP.”

Speaking outside the meeting, Corbyn said: “So I’m on the ballot paper... and we will be campaigning on all the things that matter.

“The inequality and poverty that exists in this country, the need to end the privatisation of our National Health Service, the need to give real hope and opportunity to young people all across this country.

“That’s what Labour exists for. And that’s the campaigning work we will be doing the length and breadth of this country.”

“That will strengthen our party in order to defeat this Tory government and bring in a government that cares for the people.”

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, a key ally of Corbyn, said on Twitter: “Jeremy on the ballot. Democracy prevails.

“We will use leadership election to sign up even more members and prepare ground for General Election.”

John McTernan, formerly Tony Blair’s director of political operations, said it was a vote “to kill the Labour Party.” Eagle said: “I’m glad the NEC has come to a conclusion. I welcome the contest ahead and I am determined to win it.”

Owen Smith, the former Shadow Welsh Secretary, is also expected to launch a leadership challenge. He and Eagle would both be unity candidates.

The party have taken legal advice, and, according to the BBC, could challenge the decision of the NEC in the courts.

WHAT may prove more harmful for Corbyn is the NEC’s decision to insist that anyone voting in the leadership race must either have been in the party for six months, or pay a £25 fee to sign up as a supporter.

Thousands joined up as supporters in the contest ten months ago to support Corbyn, but the fee then was just £3. The freeze could mean no vote for the 115,000 members who have joined up since the attempted coup against Corbyn started in the wake of the Brexit vote.

Those who do pay £25 will have just two days to do so.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron made a direct appeal to Labour voters who have had enough of the party’s infighting: “If you believe in social justice & economic competence you have a home in the @LibDems. Come and join the opposition”

Labour campaigns and elections chair Jon Trickett has called for a snap election in the wake of Theresa May replacing David Cameron as Prime Minister: “It is crucial, given the instability caused by the Brexit vote, that the country has a democratically elected Prime Minister.

“I am now putting the whole of the party on a General Election footing.

“It is time for the Labour Party to unite and ensure the millions of people in the country left behind by the Tories’ failed economic policies, have the opportunity to elect a Labour government”.

However, Labour moderates pointed out that the party was seven points behind in the polls and would see the party lose anything between 50 and 100 MPs.

An election would allow local parties to deselect their MPs and replace them with new candidates.

Corbyn supporters could in effect replace MPs critical of their leader with more sympathetic candidates.

If they could then get them elected, it would mean a more Corbynite party.