The Labour leadership faced fresh questions over the extent of internal dissent over the party's direction under Jeremy Corbyn after a key aide was reported to have quit.

Director of policy and rebuttal Neale Coleman was said by The Times to have resigned following rows within the leadership team.

The appointment of Mr Coleman - a respected senior City Hall adviser to Ken Livingstone who was retained by Boris Johnson to oversee the 2012 Olympics - had been applauded by moderate MPs who said he "commands widespread respect".

MPs bemoaned his apparent departure, taking to social media to express their frustration.

Former minister Kate Hoey said it was a "big loss".

A spokesman for the leader said the party did not comment on "staffing issues".