Jeremy Corbyn has been branded "cowardly and selfish" after he failed to take responsibility for Labour's local election wipeout, leaving local activists to take the blame.

Labour candidates described the results as "an unmitigated disaster" for the party after it lost 320 council seats as well as the West Midlands, Tees Valley and West of England mayoral races it had been predicted to win.

Party sources said Mr Corbyn has demanded data on the number of doors that were knocked and leaflets delivered in the areas where the party did badly, suggesting he is preparing to lay the blame at the door of local campaigners.

One Labour candidate said: "Any self-respecting leader would look at these results and resign. He's obviously not going anywhere but the Corbyn vanity project is leading Labour off a cliff edge.

"It is selfish and cowardly and he is hiding behind activists, blaming them for these losses when it's him who goes down badly on the doorstep."