Corbyn Warns Breakaway MPs To 'Think Again'

Jeremy Corbyn has warned rebel MPs who are reportedly considering to split the party and launch a legal bid for the Labour Party name to "think on and think again".

The embattled leader said dissidents who may attempt to challenge the existence of Labour if Owen Smith loses September's leadership contest must realise "there's no alternative and there's no other party".

He added: "We are the Labour Party, and I'm very proud to be the leader of the Labour Party."

:: What Are Rebel MPs' Options?

Speaking on the campaign trial in Hull, Mr Corbyn emphatically described claims that his leadership was leading to a break-up of the Labour Party as "nonsense".

Mr Corbyn said: "Since I became leader of the party, membership has doubled, activity has increased - we've won the parliamentary by-election, we've won the mayoral elections, we've got ahead of the Tories in the local elections, we're winning council by-elections week in, week out.

"We're a party that's doing very well and going places."

But his leadership rival Owen Smith, who was campaigning in Liverpool, has warned there is a "very real danger" of Labour breaking up - describing such an event as a "total disaster for working people".

The Pontypridd MP said he was standing to prevent such a split from occurring, as Labour needed to act as "really powerful opposition" to this "rotten government".

He added: "I think Labour is standing on the edge of the precipice right now. We've got to heal the party and we've got to come back together and get ready for government."

Earlier, shadow chancellor John McDonnell had urged Mr Smith to condemn the minority of MPs supporting his campaign who "are threatening to subvert the outcome of this election and cause enormous damage to the Labour Party".