Jeremy Corbyn has announced that Labour will back a second referendum as he attempts to stem the tide of defections over Brexit.

The Labour leader told MPs that he will commit to a second vote to prevent a "damaging Tory Brexit" after nine MPs quit his party. He also said Labour will support a backbench bid to take a no-deal Brexit off the table by forcing the Prime Minister to request an extension of Article 50.

Peter Kyle, a Labour MP who is leading a backbench bid to force a second referendum, said on Monday night that there was "no turning back for Jeremy now".

However, Mr Corbyn's attempt at unity appeared to immediately prompt a new split amid a backlash from Labour MPs in Leave constituencies.

Caroline Flint, the MP for Don Valley, warned that there will "never be unity in the party" if it backs a second referendum. John Mann told Mr Corbyn that Leave voting Northern constituencies will never vote Labour again: "The price that will be paid will stop you becoming Prime Minister."

Highlighting the scale of Mr Corbyn's change of position, Owen Smith, a Remain Labour MP and former shadow cabinet member, said: "I believe I was sacked for advocating precisely this position."

Labour MP Lucy Powell said after the meeting that as many as 25 Labour colleagues could vote against a second referendum.