A city councillor requested police protection at a meeting where she was re-selected by the Labour Party after repeated threats from online trolls.

Cllr Clare McIntyre was once again awarded the Labour nomination to fight for the Wavertree ward council seat last night - and received a huge outpouring of support.

The Labour councillor and NHS nurse has been the subject of threats and trolling on social media for some time - and revealed that she had asked police to keep guard at the meeting because she feared for her safety.

In 2018, a Labour Party investigation found that Cllr McIntyre had been subjected to an 'unacceptable level of harassment' after a Facebook row.

She was accused of discrimination by Labour campaigner and Merseyside Pensioners Association member Phil Maxwell.

Cllr McIntyre wrote she “looked forward” to Mr Maxwell “campaigning on the doorsteps” within an online campaign group they were both members of.

While party officials accepted he was “distressed” by the post they dismissed the allegation and said the comment had 'no malice' - and ordered those said to have targeted the nurse after it to stop doing so “immediately”.

But Cllr McIntyre said the online abuse had continued, and recently highlighted a Twitter comment from an anonymous user that accused her of 'cruelly taunting a man with cancer' and saying she should be 'ashamed'.

Cllr McIntyre responded to say: "Please take a look at your own behaviour. Using an account just to persistently troll me is very disturbing.

"I am able to speak to most people and find the common ground - if you would like to do the same - that would be helpful."

She then added: "Because of people like you - the threats and intimidation - I have felt the need to request police support for my selection meeting tonight."

In October, the Wavertree Constituency Labour Party voted to trigger Cllr McIntyre - meaning she would have to face a new vote that could have seen her deselected.

At the time, many took to social media to criticise the decision - describing it as 'insane' and an 'absolute disgrace."

Others pointed to her key role in the newly formed Love Wavertree group that was behind a historic Car Free Day in the area last summer and is planning other community-focused events.

The selection meeting took place last night and after it, Cllr McIntyre took to Twitter to reveal that she had once again been handed the Labour nomination that will allow her to fight to continue as a city councillor for Wavertree.

She said: "Thank you to all the Wavertree members for trusting me to carry on representing you - I won't let you down.

"So many people have supported me, picked me up and pushed me forwards - you all know who you are . Thank you."

The news was met with another outpouring of support.

Tom Cardwell said: "Fantastic to hear @ClareMcPlus4 was respected tonight. We need people like Clare at the heart of Labour with her skills and experience of working in our NHS fighting for us all."

Joanne Ainscough tweeted: "Delighted that my @LabourWomensNet sister @ClareMcPlus4 got reselected this evening after a horrible utterly undeserved campaign against her.

"Many would have just walked away & said ‘stuff the lot of you’ but her sense of duty wouldn’t let her. A deserved vindication."

Alisha Lewis said: "Thrilled to hear that @ClareMcPlus4 got reselected this evening in the face of some utterly vile abuse.

"Beyond party politics, there are people who do great things & people who criticise them because they can't. Clare has both the vision & the work ethic Liverpool needs."

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Local MEP Theresa Griffin added: "Well done Clare - an example of a hard working & really committed local councillor. Delighted for you!"

And newly elected Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker said: "Congratulations @ClareMcPlus4 on your re-selection. I look forward to continuing to work together to deliver for the people of Wavertree."