Moves to hold a vote of no confidence in Labour MP and outspoken leadership critic Luciana Berger have triggered a heated row in party ranks. Labour deputy leader Tom Watson intervened in the controversy to offer his support to Ms Berger in what he called her battle against "bullying hatred" from members of her local party. The comments came after shadow chancellor John McDonnell suggested the move to censure the MP was due to concern she may join a breakaway party, not over her attacks on Jeremy Corbyn's handling of anti-Semitism. Mr Watson told the Commons that Ms Berger had his "solidarity" in the showdown. Ms Berger, who is Jewish, has been highly critical of Mr Corbyn over how he has dealt with the issue of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party, as well as his positioning on Brexit. A number of senior Labour MPs have rallied behind Ms Berger after it emerged the Liverpool Wavertree Constituency Labour Party has called an extraordinary meeting for February 17 to discuss two … [Read more...] about Liverpool MP faces no confidence vote by local Labour party over Corbyn criticism
Labour party
Tom Watson accuses Labour party branch of ‘bullying’ Luciana Berger
Tom Watson has said a Labour Party branch is being investigated after he accused it of "bullying" their local MP by moving a motion of no confidence in her. The party's deputy leader said some members are "trying to drive out" Luciana Berger in the latest row over anti-Semitism within Labour. Liverpool Wavertree Constituency Labour Party (CLP) planned to hold a meeting to discuss two confidence motions which accused her of "continually using the media to criticise" Jeremy Corbyn. But after a backlash it was called off, with Mr Watson calling on Labour's General Secretary Jennie Formby to suspend the CLP. Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, he said of his colleague Ms Berger: "She's being bullied. That motion should never have been moved in her local party, the meeting to hear it should never have been scheduled." He said Mr Corbyn had "made it clear these things are not done in his name", and they "are not helping him, they are harming the reputation of the Labour Party". Mr Watson … [Read more...] about Tom Watson accuses Labour party branch of ‘bullying’ Luciana Berger
Call to suspend Luciana Berger’s local Labour party rejected
News / UK and world by Press Association February 9, 2019, 6:16 pm Send us a story Sign up to our Daily newsletter Labour’s general secretary has rejected a call by deputy leader Tom Watson to suspend a constituency party for “bullying” its MP. Mr Watson wrote to Labour’s general secretary Jennie Formby calling for her to suspend Luciana Berger’s constituency Labour party (CLP) after she faced potential no confidence motions. The motions against Ms Berger, who has been a prominent critic of Jeremy Corbyn over his handling of anti-Semitism and his position on Brexit, were withdrawn, but Mr Watson pressed for action against the activists in her Liverpool Wavertree seat. Ms Formby said she was pleased the motions had been withdrawn and Labour should stand in solidarity with Ms Berger as “she continues to experience appalling abuse”. Mr Watson said the CLP’s behaviour was “intolerable” and added Ms Berger … [Read more...] about Call to suspend Luciana Berger’s local Labour party rejected
Moderates like Luciana Berger now have no choice but to leave the Labour party
Jane Merrick Follow 8 February 2019 • 2:59pm Divisions over Brexit and anti-Semitism mean a split is inevitable Just like the Communist regimes celebrated by some of his more enthusiastic supporters, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party demands professions of loyalty under duress. How else to describe the comments made this morning by shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who told the heavily pregnant Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger that a threat by her constituency party to deselect her would go away if she denied being in talks about leaving Labour? “Luciana has been associated in the media with a breakaway party … the media have asked her to deny that and she hasn’t been clear on that. My advice on all of this is for Luciana to just put this... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only … [Read more...] about Moderates like Luciana Berger now have no choice but to leave the Labour party
Liverpool MP faces no confidence vote by local Labour party
A Labour MP who has been an outspoken critic of Jeremy Corbyn is facing a vote of no confidence by her local constituency party. Senior Labour MPs rallied behind Luciana Berger after it emerged the Liverpool Wavertree Constituency Labour Party had called an extraordinary meeting for February 17 to discuss two no confidence motions. Ms Berger, who is Jewish, has been highly critical of Mr Corbyn over his handling of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party as well as his stance on Brexit. Her comments have seen her face a torrent of abuse from online trolls while she required a police escort at last year's Labour Party … [Read more...] about Liverpool MP faces no confidence vote by local Labour party