Clive Lewis, who quit the shadow cabinet before the Brexit vote, has begun sounding out MPs for support amid mounting speculation he will try to topple Jeremy Corbyn, The Telegraph understands.

Owen Jones, a Left-wing commentator who is popular with the Labour leader’s grassroots supporters, has spoken to MPs to gauge their willingness to support Mr Lewis as a future candidate, according to sources.

It follows Mr Lewis’s decision to resign his role as shadow business secretary, forcing Mr Corbyn to reshuffle his top team after the loss of one of his most talented MPs.