Councillor complains that Liverpool MP made his life “unbearable”

The spat between Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger and one of her local councillors is hardly in the same league as the epic battles fought within the Liverpool Labour party – (remembered this month as its thirty years since Militant seized control of the city council) – but it’s a strange little row nonetheless.

To recap, a messy war of words between Berger and one of her local councillors, Jake Morrison, has poured forth into the public domain – largely thanks to Morrison publishing the contents of a letter of complaint he received from Berger last Friday.

In it, Berger, the upwardly-mobile shadow minister for climate change, complains to Morrison about “your complete lack of team work and respect for other members.”

She alleges he “ignored” emails about a training session with Ed Miliband’s campaign guru, Arnie Graf, and that he is the only councillor in her constituency who doesn’t “engage with my office”.

The letter was copied to Liverpool Mayor, Joe Anderson and the party’s chief whip.

Morrison published the letter on his Facebook page before responding with his own complaint to Ed Miliband about Berger’s behaviour.

He alleges that Berger and her constituency aide, Sheila Murphy, “orchestrated” a campaign enlisting party members in a bid to put pressure on him to quit before his term of office ends after announcing last month that he will not contest his seat at the next election in 2015.

He protests to Miliband that Berger has made his life “unbearable” and that “at every opportunity Luciana has undermined me, rather than supported.”

Sensationally elected to Liverpool City Council in 2011 having only just turned 18, Morrison managed a notable giant-slaying, beating formidable ex-Lib Dem council leader Lord Mike Storey.

At the time, Ed Miliband telephoned to congratulate him.

Morrison says that he wasn’t invited to the session with Graf, but fully supports his campaigning methods, which seek to develop a more meaningful conversation with the electorate rather than just identifying voting intentions – an approach he already uses as a local councillor for the Wavertree ward.

“I would much prefer to be putting my time and energy into working for the people of Wavertree, than pleasing the local MP” he writes to Miliband.

He says he decided to go public with the row after a 40-minute dressing down by Sheila Murphy.

No stranger to party intrigue and infighting, her top-down, disciplinarian style was honed as the party’s ‘super regional director’ covering the entire north of England before she retired at the 2010 general election.

Indeed, there is more than a hint of a culture clash beneath this row. As Morrison says in his letter to Miliband, he grew up and still lives in a “poverty-stricken area” of Liverpool and left school at seventeen before working as a healthcare assistant and Unison representative.

He contrasts this with Berger “a privately educated MP from London” (an old girl of the decidedly upmarket Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, no less).

A spokesman for Berger denies Morrison’s accusations but concedes “communication with Cllr Morrison has broken down.”

Meanwhile Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has asked Morrison to “take a break from his duties” for a month.

But this row ultimately boils down to a question of mandates. Berger and Murphy have no line management powers over Morrison – either as a councillor or as a party volunteer.

Morrison can’t be compelled to do anything and the onus must always be on MPs and their staff to coax the best out of their members, as colleagues to be encouraged, not as troops to be ordered.

It therefore seems like a silly over-reaction for an MP to write a letter of complaint against one of her own members. Perhaps a bit less bellicosity from Berger and Murphy and a tad more circumspection from Morrison would be in order?


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27 Responses to “Councillor complains that Liverpool MP made his life “unbearable””

  1. swatantra says:

    The clue is in the age : 18. At that age, its all about me me me.
    Thats why electing councillors under 21 is a mistake for both the Cllr and Party. The best age to allow anyone to stand for elected office is 25, when they’ve got some exprience of life under their belt. And reducing the voting age to 16 is complete and utter madness. Yes, we do have to listen to the Voice of Youth as well as our Senior Citizens aged 75+, but Age has its limits when it comes to taking decisions affecting the here and now.The Young have no concept of the past; and the Old have litle concept of the future.

  2. bob says:

    swatantra: that’s a rather ageist approach, it’s like saying a young person is incapable of doing anything politically under 25, surely if you’re good enough you’re old enough. To put a different way a soldier at 18 should not be in combat until he/she is 25 or that at 18 you shouldn’t be able to marry drink or vote.

    Berger was parachuted into a safe labour seat to get her into Parliament, she is a member of the party glitterati living in a gilded existence, using the people as a step ladder to cabinet position and has no real connections with the local people.

  3. bob says:

    This is from the Liverpool Daily Post, and shows the letters to Jake form the parachutist Berger and from Jake to Ed Miliband, whose side is he going to come down on?

    http://blogs.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/dalestreetblues/2013/06/sensational-row-between-cllr-j.html

  4. Renie Anjeh says:

    I think I may have spoke to soon when I called for Luciana Berger to be promoted to the Shadow Cabinet.

  5. John Ruddy says:

    Ultimately its about how we want our labour party to work. Do we want to be a campaigning party, with all elected members working together, MPs, Councillors etc.. or do we want to sideline the MP because they’re from the wrong wing of the party, or went to the wrong school?

    In this instance, there seems to have been faults on both sides – but ultimately when someone refuses to engage – they are making a conscious decision not to work as part of a team.

  6. John Reid says:

    Regarding the someone’s taken a dislike to me,so I’m leaving, I’m sure most Labour parties there’s lots of tension between. Members on how to do things best.whether its the leader of the Abour group, the M.P, the secretary, or campaign manager, and if someone was the ex M.P nd still has a following to inspire others, you stand your ground fight your corner, win people over by explaining and making friends not forming cliques or try to separate those with different view,

    Maybe 18 isn’t to young to vote, but it could be too young to not realise its all about getting our point across, and finding common ground,

    I don’t think ms a eager was parachuted in Nymore than the likes of Twigg, Leslie, Jon Cryer losing their seats in 2005 nd going to safer ones in 2010

  7. bob says:

    Now comrade Joe (I will have no dissent), has suspended him, does not stop him staying as an independent, but unfortunately Liverpool politics means he will be vilified and denigrated. Hopefully an investigation will be carried out from a national level rather than locally. This man has much local support rather than the sainted local Mp.

    link to this evenings Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-city-councillor-jake-morrison-4052671

  8. McCurry says:

    I don’t understand what his complaint is. He accuses her of being from London and privately educated, and that’s about it.
    She accuses him of persistently refusing to be a team player or even answering emails. This is after complaints have been coming in.
    I’m not surprised the MP phoned up the members. She correctly saw him coming and sought to circumvent his spite.
    He is young and stupid, and judging by the comments on this blog, he’s doing a good job of damaging the reputation of a perfectly respectable MP.

  9. bob says:

    McCurry: Do you live in Liverpool Wavertree constituency, if not, how do you know the inside story

  10. James Deakin says:

    This row is nothing to do with where berger was educated but everything to do with how she deals with people and from afar she has trampled all over a young cllr who as a party we should be supporting.

    Jake has worked so hard not just for his constituents but has blazed a trial by campaigning hard for defibrillators to be installed in public buildings and taken on the Tory Health Minister.

    I am appalled that the Labour Party have taken this action against such a hard worker – when MPs speak out and brief against each other no action is taken but a vulnerable young person is trampled all over by an elite clique the NEC should step in and put a stop to this before we destroy some one who cares and works so hard for Labour and is a great role model for aspiring young people.

    Questions need to be asked about what part is being played by an ex regional director and what influence has she had on his suspension.

  11. bob says:

    James Deakin: Totally agree, if this is not independently investigated, what sort of example does it set and more importantly it shows that MPs think everyone works for them not the other way around, THEY WORK FOR US, THE ELECTORATE.

    Ms Berger and her clique including the so called mayor of Liverpool need to reflect on their actions and their effects on the constituency and its members. This reflects very badly on the Labour Party with allegations of bullying.

  12. “…from afar she has trampled all over a young cllr…”

    In what way “from afar”? In what way has she trampled? Are people in the party not supposed to criticise the behaviour of other members?

  13. bob says:

    Yet more from the local media, bullying is WRONG.

    http://blogs.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/dalestreetblues/2013/06/suspension-letter-cllr-jake-mo.html

    Ramsey Campbell: “…from afar she has trampled all over a young cllr…”

    In what way “from afar”? In what way has she trampled? Are people in the party not supposed to criticise the behaviour of other members?

    Sounds like the Mao revolution and ‘self criticism’ I thought Labour were an ‘open and democratic’ party not bullies when they don’t get their way.

  14. Danny says:

    What an utterly embarrassing suspension letter.

    I particularly like the bit that says, “you will be expected to retain your membership”.

    Which translates to, “Yes, we are taking a massive turd on you in favour of that hot bird we thrust into your constituency, (allow me to pause whilst I contemplate the words “thrust into” in a subject involving Ms Berger) but we are that broke that we would very much like you to keep paying your membership subs.

    There are two sides to every story, so in the interest of fairness, should Ms Berger not be suspended (…another pause) whilst allegations are investigated?

    Or is it one rule for those near the top of the party and another for them at the bottom? Sounds like the Conservative approach to society.

  15. Curtis Gladden says:

    As the 17 year old Youth Officer for Liverpool Wavertree CLP, I feel that I can give a true insight into this situation.

    Encouraged by Luciana, I joined the Labour Party when I was 15. Being from an ordinary working class background, if it wasn’t for her I would have never known how to get involved in politics as I always assumed it was something only for the elite.

    I have received nothing but encouragement from Luciana. She encouraged me to stand as the CLP Youth Officer back in 2012 and has worked positively with Liverpool Young Labour and has agreed to fund members to attend various conferences across the country.

    The talk of a script is ridiculous. The script is for speaking to Labour members on the doorstep – updating information and inviting them to our summer events, not speaking to local residents. There’s nothing sinister behind it.

    Luciana works hard both in parliament and in Wavertree. Not many MPs could boast about holding a ‘Luciana Listens’ campaign which engaged with over 15,000 constituents, or a jobs fare with an attendance of over 2000 people.

    We can do this because in Wavertree we work as a team – supporting each other. I’m proud to be part of that team.

  16. bob says:

    Curtis Gladden says: As the 17 year old Youth Officer for Liverpool Wavertree CLP, I feel that I can give a true insight into this situation.

    Encouraged by Luciana, I joined the Labour Party when I was 15. Being from an ordinary working class background, if it wasn’t for her I would have never known how to get involved in politics as I always assumed it was something only for the elite.

    I have received nothing but encouragement from Luciana. She encouraged me to stand as the CLP Youth Officer back in 2012 and has worked positively with Liverpool Young Labour and has agreed to fund members to attend various conferences across the country.

    The talk of a script is ridiculous. The script is for speaking to Labour members on the doorstep – updating information and inviting them to our summer events, not speaking to local residents. There’s nothing sinister behind it.

    Luciana works hard both in parliament and in Wavertree. Not many MPs could boast about holding a ‘Luciana Listens’ campaign which engaged with over 15,000 constituents, or a jobs fare with an attendance of over 2000 people.

    We can do this because in Wavertree we work as a team – supporting each other. I’m proud to be part of that team.

    My young friend you are being played in this situation, send your boss the MP Ms Berger to give a reply, not you, to act as a glove puppet.

    Where is the fragrant Ms Berger and the mayor, in their bunker with the clique running this constituency.

    Bullying has no place in modern society, politics particularly so, as you should be setting an example. Remember, YOU WORK FOR US, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

  17. jo horrocks says:

    Curtis, are you related to Ros Gladden? In which case
    the idea you you came into labour politics through
    Berger’s inspiration seems rather implausible does it not?

  18. Curtis Gladden says:

    Nope, I’m not related to Roz. I also struggle to see how raising a genuine concern over a Labour councillor not getting in touch with the MP constitutes bullying – as a councillor you are bound to come across issues which need the MP to resolve, eg. Cases on immigration.
    I have been active for long enough to be able to hold my own opinions independent of Luciana’s and I think some of the comments in themselves are ageist in themselves ‘young friend’ etc.
    Of course I agree that bullying is a very serious issue which can’t be tolerated, however as none of us have witnessed this bullying its only appropriate that we reserve judgement pending hard evidence and the outcome of this internal investigation. However having got to know Luciana, and Jake over the past few years I do not believe this is in her character at all.
    In any organisation where there are several passionate individuals there are bound to be conflicting issues, which should be resolved internally rather than running straight to the newspapers which inevitably has done a lot of damage to The Labour Party, especially in Liverpool.

  19. James Deakin says:

    Ahhh Curtis Gladden – this is the same Curtis who tweets as ?@CurtisGladden & on the 27 May sent .@JakeLabour When I think about you I touch myself! #phwoar

    And are you the same Curtis who yesterday slagged Jake off too
    “Labour through and through” yet happy to damage the whole party and colleagues to serve your own attention seeking agenda. #Annoyed

    Did Lucianna ask you to come on here and defend her, whats most interesting is the deafening silence from people willing to speak up and defend her actions, the Party should take note a witch hunt against a young member who has the courage to speak out against bullying will do untold damage to the party, it was foolish to suspend him but let us just remember this;

    First they came for the communists,
    and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

    Then they came for the socialists,
    and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist.

    Then they came for the trade unionists,
    and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

    Then they came for me,
    and there was no one left to speak for me.

    We, collectively are Labour and let us not sit back and allow someone to be destroyed because he had the courage to speak up after all I thought we were a Democratic Socialist Party thats what our clause IV says…

    The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.

    End this nonsense now and get Jake back in the Party representing his constituents I would urge you all to contact the NEC reps to intervene and sort this out quickly.

  20. Curtis says:

    Using ‘evidence’ from when my twitter was hacked, even though I apologised straight after. How predictable. I come here to defend Luciana and give my honest opinion, didn’t attack jake once yet you choose to make personal and petty attacks. As for Luciana remaining silent, good on her respecting party rules and letting the investigation take its course. she has shown great maturity.

  21. McCurry says:

    It’s amusing watching the way that the commentators really want the MP to be in the wrong, even when the evidence stacks up that she is not.
    Curtis, you could do very well in politics.

  22. Bob says:

    Curtis: my ‘twitter’ was hacked, hmmmm sounds like the old school excuse ‘the dog ate my homework’.

    Only way forward is an independent investigation into all parties in this case.

  23. Mystery Park says:

    I assume that the real reason for the renewed efforts to espouse a united message on the doorstep is with a view to the 2015 election. Is this simply not the case of Luciana looking after he own ambiitions?

    Councillors should be engaging their constituents individually, asking them questions, listening to their concerns. Luciana simply seems to want to piggyback off local councillors popularity.

  24. Henrik says:

    Comrades, thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for the huge belly laugh this whole sorry saga has brought forth. Genius, pure comic genius. Well done all, particularly the local MP and mayor. Forward, forward, the vanguard party!

  25. Deselect Berger Now says:

    If candidates of the calibre of Lucretia Berger are selected, this is the inevitable outcome. Did you see her on Question Time the other week? Reading from her script…..

    Labour need to get rid of her and the other brain-dead , useless careerists who currently pollute the PLP.

  26. Joe Anderson says:

    “My Twitter account was hacked” Absolutely priceless, your about as convincing as Julian Clary in a cage fight !

    I stopped voting Labour years ago. They no longer represent the working class, in fact they have betrayed them. They are now the Tory lite party.

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