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Liverpool MP Luciana Berger has again found herself at odds with Jeremy Corbyn-supporting members of her local Labour branch - who have accused her of helping to give the Tories a ‘propaganda victory.’

The Wavertree MP was the subject of a motion - passed at a meeting of her own Constituency Labour Party (CLP) last week - from members unhappy with her stance over the poisoning of Yulia and Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

It follows dramatic scenes last year when Corbyn-supporters seized control of the Wavertree CLP and demanded an apology from the MP for failing to support the party leader in the past.

Ms Berger has added her name to a Parliamentary motion, proposed by Labour MP John Woodcock - a known critic of leader Jeremy Corbyn - which ‘fully supports’ a statement made by Prime Minister Theresa May’ in which she specifically pointed the finger of blame for the attack at the Russian state.

At the time, Mr Corbyn said it was important not to rush to a judgement and to consider all the evidence, while stating that it appeared most likely that Russia was behind the attack.

But by adding her name to Mr Woodcock’s motion, members of the CLP suggest that Ms Berger - who quit the Labour leader’s shadow cabinet as part of a failed coup in 2016 - is again failing to back Mr Corbyn.

But the MP said that while she understands people have different views on the subject, she ‘makes no apologies’ for her actions.

The Wavertree CLP motion - proposed by member David Gannon - stated: “We firmly believe that the Tories are using the attack in Salisbury for cynical reasons, seeking to appeal to nationalism to deflect from their disastrous policies. They have made sweeping statements without yet providing more than circumstantial evidence.”

The motion added that it “utterly condemns” the “appalling crime” that took place in Salisbury and described the Putin government as a “corrupt oligarchy” that is “quite capable of committing murder to achieve its aims.”

But in supporting the motion, the CLP said it supports the “measured and balanced” response of Jeremy Corbyn and said it was “extremely disappointing” that its own MP Ms Berger and other Labour MPs had were supporting a statement in line with Tory policy.

Addressing their own MP, the motion - which was passed - states: “This CLP calls upon our MP to withdraw her name front the Early Day Motion (EDM) in the interests of party unity and to avoid giving the Tories a propaganda victory or cover up for their collusion with the corruption and impropriety of the Russian mafia state.”

Ms Berger - who the ECHO understands was not present at the meeting - responded by stating: “It is important that every Member of Parliament listens carefully to the views of their local party and represents the views of all their constituents, who may themselves have differing and competing views.

“That is why MPs are representatives and not delegates. It is a long established parliamentary convention going all the way back to the 18th century that every MP listens carefully to a range of views, along with briefings from experts, and then use their judgement. That is what I have done.”

(Image: James Maloney / Liverpool Echo)

She added: “Chemical weapons are abhorrent, banned by international convention and no one should accept their use here in our country or anywhere else in the world.

“The EDM I signed was supported by 52 members of Parliament from all political parties.

“It is consistent with the views of many of my constituents, party members, a number of statements from the Labour Party frontbench and the international community in recognising that the trail of evidence for the horrific use of a chemical weapon on the streets of Salisbury leads from there to Russia.

“I make no apology for doing what I believe was right to highlight the threat the unprecedented use of a chemical weapon in a British town by the agents of a foreign government poses to us all. “