Liverpool Labour avoids civil war as Nick Clegg kills off boundary review
Liverpool MPs Maria Eagle, Stephen Twigg, Luciana Berger, and Louise Ellman.
Not for the first time the Liverpool Labour party will be feeling somewhat grateful towards Nick Clegg this morning.
His party's marriage to the Conservatives had already destroyed its short-term electoral chances locally.
And now he has saved the Labour party from a potentially damaging Merseyside internal war, by killing off the boundary review, that would have seen one Liverpool constituency deleted.
The proposed boundary changes had set Garston MP Maria Eagle and Wavertree MP Luciana Berger against each other as their constituencies were set for a merger.
Many of the disagreements in the Liverpool Labour party can be seen through the prism of the fight for that seat.
The fallout in the party over who was backing the who in the race to become the Labour party candidate for police and crime commissioner is a prime example.
Supporters of Jane Kennedy, former Wavertree MP who won the candidacy, were seen as pro-Bergerites. While those lining up behind Peter Kilfoyle, who narrowly missed out, were seen as pro-Eaglites.
Even though in some cases that may not have been the reality, perception - they say - is more important than reality.
But what had already been seen were just early skirmishes as both sides prepared for what was expected to be a dirty and bloody fight for the seat.
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David Bartlett
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Funny, the Labour Party membership in Wavertree is as robotic as the message above, voting as they did under ord...sorry, at the suggestion of Ms. £400 pounds a month on food Kennedy to allow her former researcher to follow her steps.
And still there are people like JJ who fail to grasp the fact that the members of the Labour Party in Wavertree had a FREE VOTE and could vote for any of the candidates who were standing. Perhaps the question JJ should be asking is why the members thought that Luciana Berger was a better candidate than the local member who stood against her.
That's far from certain. Tories + DUP = 313. Labour + LDs = 310. It depends on how many Tories rebel and some LDs may abstain.
I suspect the other 27 MPs may influence the outcome of any vote on this matter.....
Surely it is unlikely that the Tories would try for a vote, under the circumstances. They wouldn't want to risk actively losing a vote. Well I wouldn't if I was their strategist anyway. I am sincerely hoping that this means the end of these plans and the saving of 50 constituencies.
If someone was to push for an elected house of lords with members who would sit for 15 years, the trick is to do it when your party is doing well in the opinion polls. Realistically you would not expect either partner in the coalition to actualy want this right now.
Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.
Watertree Warrior, it was about as "free" as any other votes the Labour Party organise.
Yours is not a party of anaysis and debate, merely an organisation who slavishly obey dictats from your "betters".
I also think it unfair you attack Wendy for having the sheer front of standing against Kennedy's chosen one. But none the less still revealing about the continued divisions that are rank within the local party.
Paul Clein - what a thought: that our boundaries may depend on Galloway, a Green and an Ind MP! As, of course, the Speaker and team don't vote, Sinn Fein don't take their seats and the dozen nationalists have a poor attendance record, bar 1 of them.
City Centre Resident - What's 257 + 54?
Don't forget how JK betrayed Wendy Simon!
It was always going to be Luciana's anyway - don't think anyone likes Maria, she's had a lucky escape.
As for people still going on about Luciana's selection, she won fair and square with a clear majority - even Wendy would accept that.
Luciana has won the support of the city, the Labour Party and me, just a shame people are still banging the same drum years afterwards!
Well, just a word of warning, 2Labour Member", the banging of the drum has echos of concequence, and probably still yet to be realised in Ms. Berger's case.
You're quite right on Eagle's popularity. Personally spiteful, and by all accounts intolerable as an employer - lest you have your teeeth whitened and get a tan.
The Labour group in Liverpool are very sad. And mired in future *what glee!* trouble.
Permatan dan works for Angela Eagle now doesn't he?? And 'Labour Member' do you talk for all members when you say they love Luciana?? Have you spoken to half the councillors in her constituency lately?
No chance to send Berger packing back down south again.If only Ricky Tomlinson would have stood. He was right she's a load of my arse.
Quagmire Is quite right. MPs shouldnt be allowed to employ staff as their own personal chauffeurs.
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