Speaking after he tended his own resignation, the former shadow Commons leader said he posed the question as he warned Mr Corbyn he would “destroy” the party unless he stepped aside and did not seek re-election – but received no answer.
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Alan Johnson, the former home secretary, said that it often felt as if figures in the leader’s office were “working against the rest of the party and had conflicting objectives”.
Maria Eagle has since resigned as shadow culture secretary.
Eagle had been one of the most senior figures in Corbyn’s shadow cabinet, serving as shadow first secretary of state, as well as shadow secretary of state for business, innovation, and skills.
More than half the party’s “shadow cabinet” – opposition leaders who form an alternative cabinet to “shadow” government cabinet members – have resigned.
Corbyn himself faces a confidence vote amid party members who say he failed to adequately back the “remain” side.
She told Corbyn in her resignation letter: “Although I do not doubt your personal commitment to your long held-principles, I believe that a new leader is needed to take on the challenges ahead”.
The bulk of these have called for Jeremy Corbyn to resign for the good of our Party, our constituency and our countries of Wales and Britain.
The Labour Party is embroiled in meltdown, with 26 members of his shadow team resigning so far after Mr Corbyn fired Hilary Benn in the early hours of yesterday, sparking a chaotic reshuffle.
“We need to be ready to win it”.
In a joint statement Ms Nandy and Mr Smith told Mr Corbyn a leadership contest was “inevitable” and called for Mr Watson to take temporary charge of the party as “caretaker leader”.
Senior Labour MPs called on West Bromwich East MP Mr Watson, now the deputy leader, to take over “to stabilise the party”.
Mr Lewis, a strong ally of embattled Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, was appointed shadow defence secretary on Monday morning.
“I had to chase round and get him to phone me”, she said.
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She said: “It’s clear that Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership is in a very hard position – we’ll have to see what unfolds over the next few days”. I also hoped that he would help deliver a “Remain” vote from those on the British Left who had always been Eurosceptic.
