Jeremy Corbyn could face a formal leadership contest within days after two Labour MPs submitted a motion of no confidence and scores more called on him to resign after the country voted for Brexit.

Fury over the Labour leader’s “lukewarm” campaigning for Britain to stay in the European Union spilled into the open on Friday as leading party figures publicly demanded he “do the honourable thing" and step down.

Mr Corbyn looks set to face a vote of no confidence on Tuesday in a secret ballot that would give MPs the cover of anonymity – though the Labour leader’s office are fighting to delay the move.

Critics said Mr Corbyn’s performance during the referendum proves he cannot “cut it” as leader and must go to give Labour a chance of winning the general election that may be called later this year.

However his closest aides hit back by labelling the attempted coup a “self-indulgent act” at a time of uncertainty for the country, with Mr Corbyn insisting in a defiant interview on Friday: "I will not resign."