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The civil war that has erupted within the ruling Liverpool Labour group shows no sign of slowing down - with several councillors calling for those who quit Joe Anderson’s top team last week to be kicked out of the party.

The ECHO has seen several emails sent from Labour councillors - including from the incoming Lord Mayor Christine Banks - asking the group’s new chief whip to remove the whip from former Deputy Mayor Ann O’Byrne and ex-cabinet member Steve Munby.

Both figures were explicitly critical of Mayor Joe Anderson in statements they made as they quit their roles on Friday following the sacking of Assistant Mayor Nick Small.

An email sent by Cllr Banks, who will be confirmed as the city’s new Lord Mayor at a meeting tomorrow night, states that both Cllrs O’Byrne and Munby should ‘hang their heads in shame for bringing the party into disrepute.”

Writing to the chief whip, she states: “I am writing to ask that you consider withdrawing the Labour whip from councillors Ann O’Byrne and Steve Munby.

“Their comments to the media are not representative of the Liverpool Labour group and have caused upset to colleagues and the party members.

“They should both hang their heads in shame for bringing the Labour party into disrepute.”

Another councillor to write to the whip over the same issue is County Ward member Gerard Woodhouse, who called for Cllr O’Byrne to be investigated for her comments.

He wrote: “I am writing to ask that you formally withdraw the Labour whip from Ann O’Byrne.

“Her public attack on the Mayor breaks all the rules we adhere to as Labour Councillors and has brought the party into disrepute. As such, she should be suspended while an investigation takes place. The Labour whip should be withdrawn while the investigation takes place.

“I am not the only councillor who feels this way.”

Other councillors to express their unhappiness with the ex-Deputy Mayor include Cllrs Barry Kushner and Roz Gladden, who have both been heavily critical of her actions on social media.

(Image: Colin Lane)

Cllr Kushner - who was narrowly defeated by Cllr O’Byrne in a recent battle for deputy leader of the Labour group - tweeted: “Ann O’Byrne was elected Deputy Leader by a wafer thin majority of 4. This is not a “clear mandate”. Since Wednesday, information about conversations she had with other colleagues has come to light which I believe made her position untenable. We should now have a new DL election.”

Responding to this, ex Lord Mayor Cllr Gladden said: “Perhaps she will do us all a favour and resign the Labour Whip as well! Treacherous!”

The comments and emails come after an explosive day on Friday, when Cllr Small’s sacking was followed by the double resignation of Cllrs O’Byrne and Munby.

Both expressed concerns at how Mayor Anderson is running the council, with Cllr O’Byrne stating: “I’ve resigned this afternoon from the Mayor’s cabinet because I feel that the Mayor isn’t listening to the Labour group, wider party and, most importantly, to the people of Liverpool.”

Cllr Munby added his own criticism in comments to the ECHO, stating: “Increasingly Joe has not been prepared to listen to advice that he doesn’t want to hear.”

The Mayor moved quickly over the weekend to appoint three new Deputy Mayors in the form of Gary Millar, Wendy Simon and Lynnie Hinnigan.

All three will be officially sworn into position at what is expected to be a tense and potentially firey full meeting of the council tomorrow evening.

Both Cllrs O’Byrne and Munby have been contacted for a response to the latest comments from Labour councillors.