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Liverpool MP accused of gaslighting over Labour anti-Semitism claim

Labour Dame Louise Ellman and Kim JohnsonLabour
Ms Johnson (right) was elected to the Liverpool Riverside seat after Dame Louise stood down in 2019

An ex-Labour MP has said her successor's claim she "was not forced out" of the party by anti-Semitism is "gaslighting" and should be withdrawn.

Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson told the BBC Dame Louise Ellman "took a decision to resign" in 2019.

In a letter at the time, Dame Louise stated she was "deeply troubled" by the "growth of anti-Semitism" in Labour.

Responding to Ms Johnson's comments, she said she left due to "intense hostility" in the local party.

Ms Johnson said it was never her intention to negate Dame Louise's experience.

She had made her comments on BBC North West's Sunday Politics in response to criticism from Bolton West Conservative MP Chris Green about "the clearing-out of Louise Ellman and other Jewish Labour members".

She said the Labour Party "did have an issue with anti-Semitism", but added: "We do have an action plan, we have improved our position on that."

"Louise Ellman was not forced out - she took a decision to resign for the party after 22 years as a Labour MP," she said.

In a tweet, Dame Louise said she was "appalled" that Ms Johnson "denies what I experienced", adding: "This is gaslighting."

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She told the BBC she was "very surprised" by what Ms Johnson had said.

"I was forced out of the Labour Party by the anti-Jewish racism I experienced and I became very fearful about what a Corbyn-led government could mean for the Jewish community and society as a whole in this country," she said.

"I was forced out by the intense hostility, the anti-Semitism I experienced in the local Labour Party.

"I would like Kim Johnson to withdraw her statement and recognise what has happened and then let us all move on together."

In response Ms Johnson said: "I want to make it clear it was never my intention, in any way to attempt to negate Dame Louise Ellman's experience.

"As the MP for Liverpool Riverside - and the city's first Black MP - I have consistently been very vocal about and challenged all forms of racism, and will continue to speak out when I hear, see or experience it."

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