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Jeremy Corbyn today faced the threat of losing backing from a key union as he battles to cling on to office.

Delegates will meet for UNISON’s Labour Link Annual Conference in Newcastle on Thursday and Friday.

Emergency motions are expected to be tabled with at least one raising concerns over him continuing as leader, though others are likely to be supportive.

UNISON leader Dave Prentis has so far backed Mr Corbyn staying as Labour leader as the union adopted this position on the basis that he was democratically elected.

But the meeting in Newcastle could decide to ditch this stance, or take further soundings from around the regions on whether to continue supporting Mr Corbyn to stay at the helm of the party.

Meanwhile, Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson launched a “last throw of the dice” to try to get Mr Corbyn to stand down to avoid a leadership challenge.

He was due to hold face-to-face talks with Unite boss Len McCluskey who is seen as propping up Mr Corbyn in office.

Mr Watson was also set to speak by phone later in the day with other union bosses in an attempt to find a solution to break the deadlock over Mr Corbyn’s fate.

Support for the Labour leader is said to be wavering among some parts of the UNISON and GMB unions.

Mr Corbyn’s allies, though, were digging in for a fierce fight, with another rally planned for tomorrow, to try to keep him in the job until the summer recess at the end of this month.

They hope the steam will then go out of the revolt against him as MPs return to their constituencies for the six-week break.

But Mr Corbyn also faced the possibility of whips, and more shadow ministers, resigning this week which could plunge the party in Parliament into further chaos.

Veteran MP Angela Eagle, who resigned a shadow business secretary, has delivered an ultimatum to the Labour leader to step down or face a leadership challenge.

But it was not clear whether there would be a “unity” candidate to challenge him.

Owen Smith, who quit as shadow work and pensions secretary, is believed to have the backing of 50 MPs to stand in a leadership race.

However, some of those are believed to be dependent on him not jumping the gun as senior MPs seek to ease out Mr Corbyn.