Jeremy Corbyn clings on despite poll suggesting majority of Labour supporters want him to leave before the next election
But the same survey indicated he could still see off a challenge by a rival MP in the short-term
JEREMY Corbyn is clinging on defiantly as Labour leader despite a poll suggesting a majority of party supporters want him to leave before the next General Election.
But the same survey indicated he could still see off a challenge in the short-term, although his previously rock-solid grassroots support may be falling away.
The veteran leftie has vowed to stay on despite the threat by MPs to his position, and the mass resignation of scores of frontbenchers in protest at his leadership.
Shadow cabinet loyalist Emily Thornberry hit out at the "irresponsible" colleagues plotting to oust him, insisting Labour was electable with him at its head.
And Shadow chancellor John McDonnell will spearhead a fightback by the Corbyn camp today with a speech setting out the party's economic response to Brexit.
Mr Corbyn has repeatedly said he will not quit because he won an overwhelming mandate from 60% of Labour members in the 2015 leadership election and stepping down would "betray them".
But a YouGov poll for The Times suggested that although he might win a leadership contest, his support had fallen away since May.
The survey, carried out between Monday and Thursday as Mr Corbyn struggled to maintain his position, found 50% of Labour members surveyed would vote for Mr Corbyn, but 47% would not - down from the 64%-33% lead in May.
And only 41% said Mr Corbyn should lead the party into the next election - down from 60% in a similar poll in May.
Angela Eagle, who was the most senior member of the shadow cabinet to quit, is delaying her expected leadership challenge to Mr Corbyn.
The former shadow business secretary had been expected to declare that she was going to run as a "unity candidate" at a news conference on Thursday afternoon.
The YouGov poll indicated that Mr Corbyn would beat Ms Eagle by 50% to 40% if they went head to head.
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Despite the mayhem within the Labour ranks in Westminster, 51% of the party's members believed Mr Corbyn was doing well, with 48% saying he was doing badly.
Shadow foreign secretary Ms Thornberry told BBC One's Question Time that after the Brexit vote "people have, instead of thinking about the jobs of people in Britain, have been thinking about David Cameron's job and Jeremy Corbyn's job and whether they can get them or not".
"I personally think that is irresponsible at a time when our country needs us."
She added: "It is incumbent on us to have some cool heads and to think through what is the best for the country - and what is the best for the country means a united opposition that can speak clearly."
With the prospect of Mr Corbyn facing a leadership challenge, around 60,000 new members have joined Labour in the last week, according to party sources.
But with both factions in the party aggressively trying to recruit members to vote in a potential leadership contest, it is not known whether this will help or hinder the incumbent.
