Labour rebels have pledged to defy Jeremy Corbyn's new front bench by using their own "shadow shadow cabinet" to take policy positions which contradict their leader.

Senior moderate figures have told the Telegraph they intend to hold their own internal votes at a weekly meeting of Labour MPs to work out their stance on legislation.

Labour's backbench would then effectively whip MPs ahead of crunch votes in the House of Commons, ignoring demands of the leader’s office.

The open defiance of Mr Corbyn's leadership is likely to see them back tighter immigration controls, a third runway at Heathrow and renewal of Trident nuclear weapons.