The Labour party erupted into open warfare today as half the front bench walked out in a full-scale coup against Jeremy Corbyn.

Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell was among a wave of shadow ministers to quit in the wake of Britain’s vote to leave Europe.

But the Labour leader, late this evening, remained defiant - insisting he would fight any attempt to oust him.

The revolt began with Mr Corbyn’s sacking of shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn overnight, amid claims he was orchestrating a coup.

Hilary Benn on the BBC One current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show

Within hours the mass resignations had begun, along with calls from a range of backbenchers for Mr Corbyn to quit - arguing he could not lead a unified party to a general election victory.

In total eleven further shadow ministers resigned during the course of the day at a rate of around one an hour in a revolt that has been brewing ever since he took the reins last September.

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Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander, shadow transport secretary Lillian Greenwood, shadow environment secretary Kerry McCarthy, shadow attorney general Karl Turner, shadow justice secretary Lord Falconer, shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray, shadow minister for young people Gloria De Piero, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Vernon Coaker, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Seema Malhotra and shadow Commons leader Chris Bryant all swiftly joined Lucy Powell’s departure.

11 members of the Labour Shadow Cabinet resigned on Sunday

Deputy leader Tom Watson said he was ‘sad’ about the walk-out but also criticised the sacking of Hilary Benn, notably failing to articulate any support for his leader.

There were some notable exceptions to the coup, including shadow home secretary - and mayoral candidate - Andy Burnham, in marked contrast to his mayoral rival Ivan Lewis, MP for Bury South, who called for Mr Corbyn to go.

Mr Burnham’s stance was widely interpreted as a message to the Greater Manchester Labour members that he will remain loyal to the leader many of them still support.

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves his house in London

He has not actually ruled out running for the leadership should Mr Corbyn go, however most Labour figures locally believe a third leadership bid is unlikely from the Leigh MP.

The full-scale revolt comes ahead of a motion of no confidence, authored by Stockport MP Ann Coffey, goes before the parliamentary Labour party on Monday night.

Yesterday only two out of 12 Greater Manchester Labour MPs canvassed said they would be supporting Mr Corbyn in that vote.

Throughout the day Mr Corbyn’s team insisted he would stay on, raising questions over whether as incumbent leader he would automatically be a leadership candidate should there be a battle - or whether, within Labour party rules, he would need a certain number of MPs to support him.

Should the latter be the case, Mr Corbyn’s enemies could have a realistic chance of ousting him, in spite of apparent continued support from the party’s membership.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves his house in London

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Nevertheless by 10pm he had issued a statement insisting he would stand should anyone run against him.

“I regret there have been resignations today from my shadow cabinet. But I am not going to betray the trust of those who voted for me – or the millions of supporters across the country who need Labour to represent them," he said.

“Those who want to change Labour’s leadership will have to stand in a democratic election, in which I will be a candidate.

“Over the next 24 hours I will reshape my shadow cabinet and announce a new leadership team to take forward Labour’s campaign for a fairer Britain - and to get the best deal with Europe for our people.”

A key reason for the outbreak of Labour civil war is the likelihood of a snap general election in the coming months.

Over the weekend senior Tory figures were holed up in discussions about their next steps, but most MPs seemed confident an election would be inevitable in order for a new Conservative leadership to gain an electoral mandate.

Labour MPs are now panicking that an imminent snap poll would see the party destroyed if those of its voters who voted Leave - in defiance at the party’s stance - walk away from the party a second time.