Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused to stand down as prominent local authority leaders join the growing calls for him to quit.

Under-fire Mr Corbyn lost a motion of no-confidence among his fellow Labour MPs yesterday by 172 votes to 40.

The no-confidence vote followed a turbulent few days for Mr Corbyn and mass resignations from the shadow cabinet, including shadow local government minister, Liz McInnes, who announced yesterday she was stepping down from the role.

‘I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labour members and supporters and I will not betray them by resigning,' said Mr Corbyn.

‘Today's vote by MPs has no constitutional legitimacy.

‘We are a democratic party, with a clear constitution,' added the Labour leader.

‘Our people need Labour party members, trade unionists and MPs to unite behind my leadership at a critical time for our country.'

The leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, confirmed on Twitter

He had signed a letter from Labour council leaders calling on Mr Corbyn to stand down.

Sir Richard tweeted a leadership election ‘must take place in light of the parliamentary Labour Party's overwhelming no-confidence vote'.