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Jeremy Corbyn has issued a challenge to rebel Labour MPs to face him in a leadership contest.

The party's embattled leader said his opponents must face a vote of party members if they wish to topple him.

Mr Corbyn has refused to step down despite facing an overwhelming vote of no confidence by Labour MPs and mass resignations in his shadow cabinet.

He said his detractors should respect the democratic process, as he continues to enjoy support at the party's grass roots.

He also called on the party to unite in opposition to the Conservatives.

Writing in The Guardian today, he said: "I have made clear I am ready to reach out to Labour MPs who oppose my leadership - and work with the whole party to provide the alternative the country needs.

"But MPs also need to respect the democracy of our party and the views of Labour's membership, which has increased by more than 100,000to over half a million in the past fortnight alone - by far the largest it has ever been in modern times.

"Our priority must now be to mobilise this astonishing new force in politics, and ensure people in Britain have a real political alternative.

“Those who want to challenge my leadership are free to do so in a democratic contest, in which I will be a candidate.

"But the responsibility of our whole party is to stand up in united opposition to the Tory Government. If we come together, we can take them on and win."

Despite deputy leader Tom Watson's attempts to find a peaceful solution with the rebels, senior Labour figures have continued to stress that Mr Corbyn "needs to go".

On Thursday, former shadow cabinet members Angela Eagle and Owen Smith repeated their calls for Mr Corbyn to quit.

Ms Eagle, who is tipped as a contender in a leadership contest, said: "The country doesn't have an effective opposition at the moment. Jeremy Corbyn needs to go."

A shadow cabinet source said at the time that any leadership challenge may be postponed until after Mr Watson reports on his talks at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.