Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, has branded Labour's Jeremy Corbyn "toxic" as he ruled out any electoral pact between the two parties.

As the Labour leader faces a rebellion within his party's ranks over how to deal with Brexit, Mr Farron made a pitch for pro-Remain votes ahead of upcoming by-elections in Copeland and Stoke.

Mr Farron accused Labour of "lamely" giving up against the Government's drive for a hard Brexit.

"I think what Labour has done is to believe this is too difficult for them politically, let's just wait for it to go away, and the meeker we are, the quicker it will go away.

"I think that's the calculation they've made, and this and future generations are not going to forgive them for that.