No confidence motions in Labour MP Luciana Berger have been withdrawn after activists in her local constituency backed down following widespread condemnation of their move.

Ms Berger, who has suffered anti-Jewish abuse and been a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn's handling of antisemitism, is the subject of two motions of no confidence tabled by party members in Liverpool Wavertree.

Their actions received widespread criticism and deputy leader Tom Watson, described the behaviour of the activists as "intolerable".

John McDonnell sparked fury by suggesting that Ms Berger needed to confirm her loyalty to the party but did say it would be "completely wrong" if the motions were a reponse to Ms Berger standing up to antisemitism.

The shadow chancellor also said Labour would support a fresh referendum on Brexit if Theresa May is unable to get a compromise exit deal through parliament.

The prime minister is due to hold critical talks with Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar tonight, as she scrambles to achieve a breakthrough on her Brexit deal.

Ms May flew to Dublin to meet Mr Varadkar, after a series of challenging meetings in Belfast and Brussels over the divisive issue of the Irish backstop, which MPs have ordered her to remove from her deal.