No confidence motion in Luciana Berger withdrawn in shock u-turn by local party members

Luciana Berger. Credit: Press Association.

A move by Labour Party members in Liverpool Wavertree to hold votes of no confidence in the MP Luciana Berger has been scrapped in a shock u-turn by the local party.

Ms Berger was set to face two motions of no confidence in the meeting organised by the Wavertree Constituency Labour Party, which was scheduled for Sunday February 17.

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Labour deputy leader Tom Watson had earlier 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.

He has written to Labour's general secretary Jennie Formby calling for her to suspend Ms Berger's constituency Labour party (CLP).

The move to oust Ms Berger, an outspoken leadership critic, 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.