Jeremy Corbyn could back the mandatory reselection of Labour MPs amid fears he is preparing to mount a purge of moderate members of the party.

A senior source close the Labour leader said that he is considering the idea as part of plans to "democratise" the party despite vehement opposition.

It came after Chris Williamson, a shadow minister and one of Mr Corbyn's closest supporters, said that automatic reselection could help "concentrate minds" among his parliamentary colleagues.

Ian Lavery, Labour's chairman, has also given his backing to a change to the current rules under which MPs cannot be reselected.