Jeremy Corbyn has promoted key allies to his shadow cabinet - including a Barrow-born MP - as the revolt against his leadership of the Labour Party continued.

The Labour leader lost 12 members of his shadow cabinet on Sunday but has made a series of appointments in an effort to shore up his position.

But he faced further resignations from the junior frontbench ranks amid fresh calls for him to stand down as leader.

Former shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry will replace Hilary Benn, who was sacked as shadow foreign secretary in the early hours of Sunday morning. And Diane Abbott replaces Heidi Alexander, who quit as shadow health secretary.

Other appointments confirmed by Mr Corbyn in his reshuffle were Barrow-born Cat Smith, the Lancaster and Fleetwood MP, as the shadow voter engagement and youth affairs minister, Pat Glass as shadow education secretary, Andy McDonald in the transport brief, Clive Lewis takes defence, Rebecca Long-Bailey will be shadow chief secretary and Kate Osamor is the new shadow development secretary.

The shadow environment, food and rural affairs portfolio has gone to Rachel Maskell and Dave Anderson becomes shadow Northern Ireland secretary. The chaos in the Labour ranks saw a string of junior frontbenchers follow the lead of their former shadow cabinet colleagues in quitting in protest at Mr Corbyn's leadership.

A motion of no confidence is set to be considered at the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting, with the possibility of a secret vote on Tuesday. Former shadow education secretary Lucy Powell, who resigned on Sunday, insisted it was not a "planned coup" against Mr Corbyn, but instead a reaction to the "seismic" events which have shaken Westminster in recent days - the EU referendum result and David Cameron's resignation.

Mr Corbyn has vowed to fight on as leader, challenging the rebels to put up a candidate to stand against him, but Ms Powell told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she hoped he would "not drag this out any longer than necessary".

Toby Perkins has resigned as shadow armed forces minister saying that the Labour Party "needs a change at the top". Diana Johnson has resigned as a shadow foreign minister and Anna Turley as shadow minister for civil society.

Shadow attorney general Karl Turner announced yesterday that he could no longer work with the Labour leader following criticism of Mr Corbyn's "lacklustre" anti-Brexit campaign.

The party's influential deputy leader Tom Watson said he is to hold emergency talks with Mr Corbyn today to "discuss the way forward" after ten members of the shadow cabinet announced they were resigning - with more expected to follow.

In a statement, Mr Watson said he was "saddened" so many colleagues felt unable to carry on and "deeply disappointed" at the sacking overnight of shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn which triggered the walkout.

He said: "My single focus is to hold the Labour Party together in very turbulent times. The nation needs an effective opposition, particularly as the current leadership of the country is so lamentable.

"It's very clear to me that we are heading for an early general election and the Labour Party must be ready to form a government. There's much work to do. I will be meeting Jeremy Corbyn tomorrow morning to discuss the way forward."

As Mr Watson returned from the Glastonbury Festival to deal with the crisis, allies of the Labour leader insisted he had no intention of quitting - angrily accusing the rebels of plotting for months to get rid of him.

A series of senior trade unionists on Labour's ruling national executive committee rallied in support of Mr Corbyn - including Unite leader Len McCluskey and Dave Ward of the Communication Workers Union. There was also support from shadow home secretary Andy Burnham who said he had no intention of taking part in a coup against the Labour leader.

Copeland MP Jamie Reed said "it is time for Jeremy to go". Mr Reed fully supports the shadow cabinet members who have resigned, saying; "there will be more to come".

He said people believe Mr Corbyn is a very nice man, but not capable to be a party leader or prime minister, and Mr Reed does not disagree with them. Mr Reed said: "I think he has failed. The latest catastrophe was in the campaign to remain in the EU." With claims of deliberate sabotage of the remain campaign by Mr Corbyn being made in reports, Mr Reed said: "It's a hammer blow and I think that was the final straw."

Mr Reed said: "I've had emails from people all over the constituency wanting Jeremy to go. They have said 'we have given Jeremy a chance, now it's time for change'. They want someone who can win a general election."

He said Mr Corbyn's views are out of touch with Labour voters and others on issues such as Trident and combating terrorism.

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said the sacking of Mr Benn was "disorderly and undignified".

Mr Woodcock said: "The important question is, can Jeremy lead the party effectively at this critically important time in the aftermath of the EU Referendum result and potentially with a general election sooner than we thought?

"We have seen the damage that not having an effective Labour leader has done during the Remain campaign. Reports suggesting it was a deliberate sabotage will horrify members.

"I've been contacted by Labour Party members and supporters some who say Jeremy should stay, but many are saying it's time for him to step aside. For me I'm thinking very carefully about what to do with the motion."

Mr Woodcock said he is committed fighting for the Barrow and Furness constituency.