Emmanuel Macron has rejected calls to resign ahead of a crunch confidence vote which could topple a sixth French Prime Minister.

Mr Macron is bracing for a showdown in the National Assembly on September 8 as MPs clash over the French leader's plans to slash public spending.

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, who only succeeded Michel Barnier in December last year, is gambling his political career on ending the deadlock.

Mr Bayrou proposed £38billion in spending cuts and tax increases in July, warning the decision was essential to bring down Paris's budget deficit.

The proposal to scrap two public holidays and freeze spending increases has also sparked fury from MPs and voters across France.

Mr Macron is also facing calls to resign ahead of the end of his second term in the Elysee Palace.

National Rally leader Jordan Bardella urged Mr Macron to dissolve parliament or resign, calling it the “only solution”.

Sebastien Chenu, National Rally’s deputy leader, added: “Too late. Mr Prime Minister, you have missed many opportunities to construct a budget that benefits the French people. The page has been turned. Dialogue is in the past.”

Meanwhile, the left-wing French Unbowed vowed to skip next week's talks and the Greens have reportedly decided to boycott negotiations.

Despite pressure mounting on Mr Macron, the French President insisted: “The mandate entrusted to me by the French people … will be exercised until its term expires.”

In a boost to Mr Bayrou, Mr Macron was not facing “an insurmountable challenge”.

He also suggested that French MPs should cross the political divide to find "ways to agree" on the proposed budget.