‘Luciana Berger has been treated disgracefully by Labour’: Voters in Liverpool Wavertree take stock as MP resigns

‘Luciana Berger has been treated disgracefully by Labour’: Voters in Liverpool Wavertree take stock as MP resigns

A straw poll of customers in the pub suggests opinion in this Labour heartland

At the Rose Vaults pub on the High Street in Wavertree, customers are discussing the decision by their local MP to quit the Labour Party. “I think it’s disgraceful how Luciana Berger has been treated,” says Brian Phair over his pint. “She’s done her best as our MP. She’s been round my street helping us when we had trouble with the binmen. “But she’s had enough of the anti-Semitic abuse and how she feels is understandable. I voted Labour all my life until the last election. Jeremy Corbyn is too extreme.” Another customer, Steve Flynn, who is sitting at the bar, says :“Luciana is a good person, but I’ve always voted Labour and that’s the way it is. I wouldn’t do anything else.”

Divided opinion 

A straw poll of customers in the pub, which has a red rose mosaic on the floor near the door, suggests opinion in this Labour heartland is divided about Ms Berger’s decision to leave the Party. The seat has been red on the political map since it was created in 1997 and Ms Berger has had overwhelming support from the electorate – winning a 79.5 percent share of the vote at the last general election. But voters at the Rose Vaults and on the street outside are understanding about the reasons why Ms Berger, who said Labour is ”institutionally anti-Semitic“, has quit.

Corbyn critic 

The MP, who is Jewish, has suffered months of horrific abuse and has an outspoken critic of the party’s handling of anti-Semitism and its stance on Brexit. ”The anti-Semitism Luciana Berger has faced has been disgusting,“ says George Davies, who is watching the news on a TV in the nearby Prince Albert pub. ”She’s been a very good MP for this area. She spoke up for us. “There were some who were saying she should swear allegiance to Labour. But Labour should have sworn allegiance to Luciana Berger. You shouldn’t get bullied on because of your religion. It’s a disgrace.” “I’ve always been a Labour voter,” he adds, “but if she was to stand in Wavertree as an Independent, I would vote for Luciana Berger.”

‘I feel badly let down’ 

But Robert Marks, who is walking on the High Street on his way to get a haircut, says: “I don’t mind that she has left Labour,“ he say. ”She didn’t even know who Bob Paisley was when she was asked a few years ago. We need somebody local.” Over at the Edinburgh pub, close to Ms Berger’s constituency office, the landlord Walter “Scotty” Scott says he supports the MP. “I initially supported Jeremy Corbyn because I thought he would be a breath of fresh air,” he says from behind the bar. “But he hasn’t lived up to my expectations and he hasn’t handled the anti-Semitism allegations well. I feel badly let down.”

by Dean Kirby