Jeremy Corbyn lacks the credibility and practical approach needed to be Prime Minister, Labour MP and chair of Christians of the Left Jonathan Reynolds told Christian Today.
Reynolds said he would support Owen Smith, Corbyn's rival, as the Labour leader launched his campaign to be re-elected with a plea for MPs to "get behind the party". Corbyn vowed to tackle the "five ills of 21st century Britain", which he listed as inequality, neglect, prejudice, insecurity and discrimination.
But Reynolds said Smith has more chance of becoming Prime Minister and so had his support.
"I want Labour to make a practical difference to peoples' lives," he told Christian Today. "I want the chance to address some of the issues that I think are serious for this country. And I think that means that Labour has to be a credible party of government."
Corbyn, said Reynolds, was not a credible option.
"I want someone who could mix the idealism that I am about with a serious practical approach that can gain the confidence of the people so Labour can form a government."
Owen Smith, the Labour MP for Pontypridd, will stand as the sole opposition to Corbyn after Angela Eagle dropped out of the race. Smith won more nominations from MPs than Eagle, prompting her resignation.
Reynolds said Smith is an "exciting politician" and a "serious credible candidate" who could unite the party.
Although most Labour MPs supported a "no confidence" motion against their own leader, Corbyn was elected by a large majority by Labour members and is ahead in the polls to be re-elected, to the despair of many of his more centrist MPs. 183,000 people have signed up in the last 48 hours to vote in the head-to-head battle, many of whom are suspected to be Corbyn-supporters.
But Reynolds told Christian Today he thought Corbyn did not really want to become Prime Minister. "I don't think that is what Jeremy is about fundamentally," he said. "I think there will probably be an election before 2020 because of the EU referendum and I think we need someone who can bring the whole of the Labour movement together and go to the public as a potential Prime Minister.
"For all the good things Jeremy is about, if you look at the polls or how we have fared in the last 10 months, I don't think you can say he can achieve those ends and that is why I will vote for Owen."
Reynolds urged Christians within the Labour movement to consider that "mix of idealism and credibility in electoral chances". He added it worried him that language within politics had descended and hoped Christians would engage with a different tone. "I hope anyone who describes themselves as a Christian within the party can not engage in that [abusive language] and can always be people that are trying to bring people together, whether that is between political parties or certainly within political parties."
