Jeremy Corbyn is facing a split in the Labour Party as 80 MPs called for a second referendum while the party chairman warned backing a so-called People's Vote would cause massive divisions.

Remainers within the Labour Party want Corbyn to push Theresa May to hold a second EU referendum.

But the party chairman, Ian Lavery, warned Corbyn if he backed another referendum he risked causing an irrevocable split withing the movement.

The Labour leader has been holding talks with the Prime Minister to try and reach a deal and break the Brexit deadlock in parliament.

During a shadow cabinet meeting earlier this week, Lavery, 'wagged his finger' at the party leader as he made his point moments before MPs were due to cast a vote, according to The Observer.

Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the Pill Millennium Centre beside Ruth Jones, the new MP for Newport West after Friday's by-election

Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery (left) warned Jeremy Corbyn that if he backed another referendum he risked splitting the party while deputy leader Tom Watson (right) wants to see a 'confirmatory referendum' on any deal MPs agreed

Lavery has defied the party whip to abstain twice on votes in parliament on holding a second referendum as an option on the ballot paper.

During the same meeting, several top figures in the party including deputy leader Tom Watson and shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, reportedly backed a 'confirmatory referendum' on any deal MPs agreed.

Remaining in the EU would be an alternative to any deal on the proposed ballot, according to The Observer.

Around a third of Labour MPs wrote to Corbyn telling him not to strike a deal with Mrs May unless it included a second referendum.

The letter was signed by high-profile Remainers in the party, including Margaret Hodge, Jess Phillips, Stella Creasy, Rachel Reeves, Clive Lewis and Kate Osamor.

It read: 'Labour is offering a vision of hope which has inspired millions of people. Tory Brexit threatens this, and so does any perceived participation in delivering it.

'Any compromise deal which is now agreed by Parliament will have no legitimacy if it is not confirmed by the public.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (centre), shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer and shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey in his office in the Houses of Parliament preparing for a meeting with Theresa May earlier this week

Theresa May and her husband Philip leave church, as Brexit turmoil continues, near High Wycombe today

'The only way to guarantee jobs, rights and protections - and Labour's reputation with its membership and the electorate - is to support a confirmatory public vote on any option which is agreed by parliament, which will put additional pressure on the government to hold the early general election the country needs.'

A group of 25 backbenchers from mostly Leave-voting areas urged the Labour leader to make every effort to compromise with the Prime Minister if it would lead to an agreement that facilitated Brexit.

Emily Thornberry, shadow foreign secretary, contradicted her leader on Wednesday by demanding a second referendum on any deal struck by MPs.

Jo Platt, the Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, warned a second referendum would tell Labour Leave voters their vote did not matter.

She wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: 'When some MPs began advocating a second referendum with Remain as an option, the message this sent to those honest but concerned constituents simply confirmed what they already feared - their voice is held as second rate in Westminster.

'Worst of all, it sends the message that rather than the hope they were promised in 2016, we propose to take things back to the status quo because we think that is better for you - trust us.'

There were 16 Labour abstentions - including nine front benchers - and 24 No votes on a new public vote in a Commons ballot on Tuesday night.

A new referendum was defeated by 12 votes - meaning if Labour's MPs had followed the whip the idea would have passed.

Lavery ignored orders to vote for a second referendum and abstained - causing fury among People's Vote supporters.