The executive committee of MP Luciana Berger's former local Labour Party has said that claims of antisemitism in the party - which led to her quitting - are “largely unfounded”.

In a message sent to Liverpool Wavertree Constituency Labour Party (CLP) members ahead of its AGM on July 4, the committee notes Ms Berger's departure from the party in February but fails to mention this was over antisemitic bullying.

It describes efforts to select a new Labour candidate and adds: “Our membership – currently 1,651 – has remained relatively steady despite concerns about Labour’s policy on exiting the EU and the largely unfounded claims of antisemitism within the Labour Party.”

One angry former Labour member in Liverpool who was sent the annual review told the JC: "This is symptomatic of the problem in the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn.

“People are leaving the party left right and centre all over the country. Meanwhile the people in charge of the local parties are still in denial about the serious problem of  antisemitism.

“To describe these claims as ‘largely unfounded’ in relation to Luciana is quite frankly an insult, and a disgrace.”

The CLP's membership figures suggest around 50 people have quit it since July last year - although other sources claim far more have walked away from the party, having only recently cancelled their membership.

Ms Berger was among nine Labour MPs to quit Mr Corbyn's party in February.

She said had become "embarrassed and ashamed" to be a Labour member, which she called "institutionally antisemitic" with "a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation".

Shortly before her departure, the JC revealed that outgoing Liverpool Wavertree CLP chair Alex Scott-Samuel had repeated Rothschild conspiracy theories on an internet radio show which was, at the time, broadcast by conspiracy theorist David Icke, amid claims of bullying of Ms Berger by local members.

Dr Scott-Samuel is now seeking to land the role of CLP policy officer at elections for officer positions to be held at the July 4 meeting.

In his nomination statement, seen by the JC, Dr Scott-Samuel, who had previously demanded ex-MP Ms Berger took a loyalty test to prove her support for Mr Corbyn, writes that he has worked as “an adviser to [Shadow Health Secretary] Jonathan Ashworth and other members of the Shadow Health Team.”

Dr Scott-Samuel has also put himself forward for a post on the Local Campaign Forum team – again repeating his claim that he has worked as an adviser to Mr Ashworth.

Former Wavertree CLP secretary Nina Houghton has now put herself forward to take over from Dr Scott-Samuel as chair.

She writes she joined Labour "to support the leadership of Corbyn and the transformation of the Party into a mass movement capable of winning a General Election".

“In my role as Secretary I have had a key role in steering our CLP through a turbulent year in which our MP defected to another party. And now in preparing to select a Parliamentary candidate for Wavertree who truly reflects socialist ideals,” she writes.

Ms Houghton has previously supported now-suspended MP Chris Williamson – appearing with him at a Momentum-backed event in Liverpool last year where a member of the audience called Jewish MPs "Israeli foot soldiers” who were trying to "take our democracy away from us".