Seven MPs have resigned from the Labour Party citing institutional antisemitism as among the main reasons for their departure.

At a press conference in London, Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger said she was "embarrassed and ashamed" to be a member of the Labour Party which she said was "institutionally antisemitic" and had "a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation". Ms Berger has long been a target for antisemitic Labour activists who have plied her with abuse and death threats.

The other MPs to speak cited antisemitism as their reason for leaving but added several other reasons, primary among which was Labour’s direction over Brexit.

The second MP to speak, Chris Leslie, who represents Nottingham East, said: "It has not been an easy decision for any of us" adding that the party had been "hijacked by the machine politics of the extreme left".

Ilford South MP Mike Gapes said: "I am sickened that Labour is now a racist, antisemitic party" and "furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in this".

Mr Gapes added: “Jeremy Corbyn and the people around him are on the wrong side on so many international issues, from Venezuela to Syria to Russia.”

When asked about Ms Berger's comments on antisemitism Mr Corbyn said: "I'm saddened that Luciana Berger has resigned from the Party. I would like to thank her for her campaigning on mental health in particular."

He added: "I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that  inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945.

“Labour won people over on a programme for the many not the few – redistributing wealth and power, taking vital resources into public ownership, investing in every region and nation, and tackling climate change.

“The Conservative Government is bungling Brexit, while Labour has set out a unifying and credible alternative plan. When millions are facing the misery of Universal Credit, rising crime, homelessness and poverty, now more than ever is the time to bring people together to build a better future for us all."

Responding to the news of the split London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was deeply sad but acknowledged the party has been "shockingly poor" at dealing with antisemitism.

Mr Khan said Labour had not acted quickly enough to tackle antisemitism.

He said: “The Labour Party has been shockingly poor at addressing the issue of antisemitism over the last few years. We know that there are members of the Labour Party who have joined who have clearly anti-Semitic views, or have been in our party for some time and have clearly antisemitic a view, the Labour Party hasn’t acted swiftly enough to kick them out.”

Jewish communal leaders also responded to the news. 

Jonathan Goldstein, JLC Chair, said Ms Berger had been forced out of the Labour Party by “anti-Jewish bullies.

He said the party had let her and others down “whilst allowing racism against Jews to flourish.”

He added: “There can be no greater indictment of a progressive party than the fact it is now tearing itself apart because the leadership has failed to deal with anti-Jewish hatred.”

The Community Security Trust said it was “shocking” that the problem of antisemitism had been allowed to “fester and grow so much so that several of the MPs who today resigned from the party cited antisemitism as one of the reasons.”

It said Ms Berger’s departure from the party should be a moment of “shame that should cause outrage and alarm across the country.”

Marie van der Zyl, the President of the Board of Deputies, said the announcement of the Independent Group was a “searing indictment on the Labour Leadership.

“Labour has failed to deal with antisemitism since the Jewish Community’s Enough is Enough demonstration called on the Labour leadership to act against this racism.

“This is a moment of great shame for the Labour Party and a tragedy for the thousands of Jews who have supported the Party for generations.”