Luciana Berger becomes the latest Labour MP to face a no-confidence motion from her constituency members over her criticism of Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of the party’s anti-Semitism crisis
- Liverpool Wavertree MP, 37, could be unseated if local party vote to oust her
- She has been vocal in Labour leader’s ‘failure’ to deal with anti-Semitism in party
- Comes after Joan Ryan MP, chair of Labour Friends of Israel, faced same motion
Luciana Berger has become the latest Labour MP to face a no-confidence vote over criticism of Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of the party’s anti-Semitism crisis.
The Liverpool Wavertree MP, 37 could be ousted from her job if the local Labour group votes to remove her.
She has been highly critical of Corbyn’s response to accusations of rampant anti-Semitic prejudice within the party, which have at times left it in disarray.
This week she branded the situation ‘disgusting’ and warned Jewish prejudice was going ‘unchecked’ by senior Labour members.
Berger is Jewish and has suffered anti-Semitic abuse on several occasions, with four men sent to prison for racially-aggravated tirades and death threats.
Luciana Berger, 37, (pictured at Brexit debate in Parliament Square last month) could be ousted from her job if the local Labour group votes to remove her
Berger has been highly critical of Jeremy Corbyn’s (he is pictured at an event in Worcester today) response to accusations of rampant anti-Semitic prejudice within the party, which have at times left it in disarray
She had to be accompanied by a police escort at last year’s Labour Party conference over fears for her safety.
Speaking at the time she said: ‘We are under attack. There are Jews in this country who do not feel safe.’
The Liverpool Wavertree Labour group has called an extraordinary meeting after two motions of no confidence in MP Luciana Berger were tabled.
Agendas have been sent to 1,700 members and the decision will be made on February 17.
The first motion, proposed and seconded by CLP members Howard Sharp and Peter Cain respectively, asks members to vote to agree that: ‘Wavertree CLP has no confidence in Luciana Berger as our representative in Parliament.’
It follows a similar motion against MP for Enfield North, Joan Ryan, who is chairman of the Labour Friends of Israel and has also been an outspoken critic of Corbyn.
This week it was reported that six Labour MPs, including Berger, are threatening to quit the party to create a more centrist one over the anti-Semitism crisis and ‘confused’ stance on Brexit.
Tories such as Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen are feared by Downing Street to be considering a similar move, according to the Sunday Times, with the Lib Dems at the heart of the movement.
Berger had to be escorted to and from the Labour Party Conference by a police officer after two men were jailed for sending her anti-Semitic abuse
Berger is pictured on ITV’s Peston show last night. She faces a debate on her position as MP on February 17