John McDonnell urges Luciana Berger to 'reject rumours of new breakaway party' as she faces no confidence vote
Labour MP John McDonnell has told ITV News, Luciana Berger is most likely facing two no confidence motions because she "has been associated with these rumours of a breakaway new party".
He added if people believed it was due to her criticism of Jeremy Corbyn's stance on anti-semitism that was "completely wrong".
Senior Labour MPs have rallied behind Berger after it emerged the Liverpool Wavertree Constituency Labour Party had called an extraordinary meeting for February 17 to discuss two no confidence motions.
The Shadow Chancellor added: "She should just reject this concept of a new party."
Ms Berger, who is Jewish, has been highly critical of Jeremy Corbyn over his handling of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party as well as his stance on Brexit.
The MPs recent comments have seen her face a torrent of abuse from trolls online while she required a police escort at last year’s Labour Party conference after receiving death threats.
Former leader Ed Miliband has stood up for the MP saying she was a "brilliant, talented person who I am proud to have as a Labour colleague".
He added: "She is a powerful advocate on mental health and against anti-Semitism. She should be supported not undermined by everyone throughout our party."
Yvette Cooper said on Twitter: "Solidarity with Luciana Berger - a brilliant Labour MP, rightly campaigning against anti-Semitism both in our party and across the country and one of our most powerful voices campaigning on mental health.
The move against her comes after she joined other MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday in calling for details on the party’s efforts to tackle anti-Semitism to be released.
In a statement, Ms Berger said she believed her constituents would judge her on her record and her efforts to represent them in Parliament.
"I have made no secret that, as a Jewish woman representing a city with a Jewish community, I have been deeply disturbed by the lack of response from Jeremy Corbyn as party leader and many in the wider leadership to the anti-Semitism that stains our party," she said.
"I am deeply disturbed at the leadership’s desire to brush this aside and its decision not to comply with the expressed wish of Labour MPs.
"Nothing will deter me from exposing anti-Semitism wherever it festers, including in the Labour Party where it is being wilfully ignored."
A Labour Party source said: "Anti-Semitism is not mentioned in the motion and the motion has no formal standing.
"However, Jeremy Corbyn has made clear that no one should be criticised for speaking out against anti-Semitism."