Opposition Labour lawmaker Angela Eagle said on Tuesday she was withdrawing from the race to oust party leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying she would give her support to rival Owen Smith instead in order to boost the chances of a change of leadership.

Eagle triggered the contest last week by challenging Corbyn, but said she had since received fewer nominations from Labour lawmakers than Smith.

"It is in the best interests of the Labour Party that we now come together so we can have one candidate," she told reporters.