Labour Party leadership race hots up with a 6-4 favourite already emerging

Jeremy Corbyn faces a crunch showdown with the Parliamentary Labour Party tomorrow night.

The leader is expected to be bombarded with questions from backbenchers in the Commons after their worst election result since 1935.

Mr Corbyn, who will quit early next year, has been heavily criticised since the election.

Party leadership hopefuls including favourite Rebecca Long- Bailey, Lisa Nandy, Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner were among mourners at the funeral of party grandee Frank Dobson today.

Meanwhile, a close ally of Mr Corbyn has blamed the BBC for fuelling Labour ’s crushing defeat.

Shadow Transport Secretary, Andy McDonald, launched a furious broadside at the broadcaster, accusing it of playing a role in Labour’s hammering.

Jeremy Corbyn was pictured leaving St Pancras Church after Frank Dobson's funeral (PA)

Lisa Nandy, 40, has been Member of Parliament for Wigan since 2010 (Daily Mirror)

In a tense exchange with Radio 4 Today programme host Justin Webb, the frontbencher said: “I’m worried about our public service broadcaster.”

Webb asked: “Are you saying that the BBC was in part responsible for Mr Corbyn’s loss?”

Mr McDonald replied: “I am saying that they played a part. I’m going to look at us. We’re the important part here, we got this wrong. “But if the BBC are going to hold themselves out as somehow having conducted themselves in an impartial manner, I think they’ve really got to have a look in the mirror.”

Keir Starmer is now 8-1 to become Leader of the Opposition (Daily Mirror)

MPs, peers and medical leaders praised Frank Dobson at his funeral (PA)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan appeared to rule himself out of the leadership race by concentrating on winning a second term in the capital.

He encouraged the next leader to be reflective about last week’s defeat at the polls, saying: “I don’t believe in heroic failure, we don’t improve anybody’s lives by losing elections.”

Labour’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, has reportedly recommended the contest starts on January 7, with the view of having a new leader in place by the end of March.

Odds on current candidates to become Labour leader

Lisa Nandy - 7-2 - Wigan MP, 40, quit as Shadow Energy Secretary in a 2016 revolt after Brexit referendum

Keir Starmer - 8-1 - Holborn and St Pancras MP, 57, fought to force Corbyn into backing a second referendum

Rebecca Long-Bailey - 6-4 - Salford and Eccles MP, 40, a Corbyn loyalist, Shadow Business Secretary has tipped for leadership

Jess Phillips - 13-1 - Birmingham Yardley‘s backbencher, 38, Corbyn critic who can appeal to broader public

Angela Rayner - 39-1 - Ashton-under-Lyne MP, 39, the Shadow Education Secretary has followed her own course