Labour was in renewed chaos over Brexit today after it emerged leader Jeremy Corbyn has not issued orders to his MPs to back the start of official talks.

The Government is expected to lose a Supreme Court case on Theresa May's power to trigger Article 50 of the EU treaties without a Commons vote.

If the defeat is confirmed on Tuesday, Mrs May is expected to immediately legislate - potentially meaning votes on Brexit could be called within days.

Mr Corbyn said yesterday that Labour would not block Article 50 in remarks widely interpreted as a 'three line whip' on his MPs.

Such an order means shadow ministers are expected to resign if they defy the leader's instructions.

But a source in Mr Corbyn's office today insisted no orders have been given.

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured today in Glasgow, will not give whipping orders to his MPs until any draft law on Article 50 of the EU treaties is published

Mr Corbyn is in Glasgow on his first visit to Scotland in 2017 as the party searches for a solution to its political malaise north of the border

The Labour leader does not plan to oppose the legislation from going ahead but the source warned: 'We will seek to amend the Bill if it doesn't reflect our priorities for the negotiations.'

The Government is thought to have drafted a single-clause Bill explicitly handing the power to invoke Article 50 to the Prime Minister.

The draft law could be introduced to Parliament soon after the Supreme Court delivers its judgement and potentially passed within days depending on ministers' timetable.

But amendments could potentially cause delay - particularly if Government and opposition whips cannot agree on a schedule for debates.

Mr Corbyn is facing a rebellion from his MPs.

Ian Murray, Labour's only Scottish MP, today confirmed to the Herald he would vote against Article 50, while Mike Gapes, a London MP, has also vowed to vote no.

The Guardian reported yesterday as many as four shadow cabinet members wanted to vote against Article 50.

The report prompted shadow business secretary Clive Lewis to break cover and say Labour should be demanding 'assurances and guarantees' before agreeing to back Article 50, which he said was not in the best interests of the country.

The new position comes after remarks made by Mr Corbyn yesterday which were widely interpreted as indicating he would use his strongest 'whip' to order his MPs to back Brexit

In the remarks which triggered the latest bout of Labour uncertainty, Mr Corbyn had told Sky News: 'It's very clear the referendum made a decision that Britain is to leave the European Union … I have made it very clear the Labour Party accepts and respects the decision of the British people.

'We will not block Article 50.'

Asked if that meant a three-line whip, he said: 'It means that all Labour MPs will be asked to vote in that direction next week or whenever the vote comes up.'

Mr Lewis, MP for Norwich South, said: 'It is safe to say I am deeply concerned at the direction Theresa May and the Conservative Government is taking these negotiations …

'I don't think what is currently on the table, given the irreversibility of Article 50, means that signing Article 50 under these conditions is in the best interests of people in Norwich or the country.'

Members of Jeremy Corbyn's frontbench have revealed they are could vote against Brexit when Theresa May seeks parliamentary approval to trigger departure talks with Brussels

Tory MP Dominic Raab, pictured, blasted Labour for 'plotting to vote to ignore' June's Brexit vote and accused the party of disrespecting democracy

One shadow cabinet minister told The Guardian: 'I'm concerned that if we wave Article 50 through, my constituents will go crazy.'

Another said: 'When people lose their jobs, you need to be on the right side of that.

'I don't think we should vote to trigger Article 50.'

Tory MP Dominic Raab said: 'Labour backed the EU referendum … members of Jeremy Corbyn's top team are now plotting to vote to ignore the result … Labour is too divided and incompetent even to agree to respect the decision people have already made.

The former head of Britain's anti-racism watchdog yesterday said it was 'delusional' to suggest Brexit was to blame for a spike in hate crimes.

Lord Ouseley, former chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, said there was 'nothing new' about levels of racial hatred in society. He said abuse against ethnic minorities had been a feature of British life for years, as had attacks on the disabled and gay people – meaning there was no way they could be blamed on Brexit.

Lord Ouseley spoke out a day after the current Commission chairman David Isaac warned hate crimes could soar when Article 50 is triggered.

The Supreme Court will rule on Tuesday whether Theresa May, pictured speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this morning, must win parliamentary backing