A Liverpool Councillor and former Lord Mayor of the city has quit the Labour Party.
Anna Rothery, who earlier this year put herself forward to be the next elected Mayor of Liverpool, has written to the party's General Secretary David Evans to resign from the party.
Cllr Rothery, who has represented Princes Park ward in the Liverpool 8 area since 2006, will now sit as an independent councillor on Liverpool Council.
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The former Lord Mayor was one of three women who were initially placed on a shortlist to replace Joe Anderson as Mayor of Liverpool - before that shortlist was dramatically removed with very little explanation from the party.
Joanne Anderson was eventually chosen to replace her near-namesake as mayor.
In a letter to Mr Evans, Cllr Rothery was heavily critical of the party and leader Keir Starmer.
She wrote: "Today I have taken the difficult decision to resign from the Labour Party and to sit as an independent on Liverpool City Council.
"It's a matter of great sadness, having joined the Party as a teenager but one I arrived at on principle. As a socialist, I feel the Labour Party no longer represents my values. I can no longer serve the residents of Princes Park to the best of my abilities and remain as a member."
She said she believes Labour's leadership is 'failing in its duty to effectively oppose the government's attacks on our people', adding: "The leadership is more interested carrying out internal party vendettas than standing up for our people, our black community and our LGBTQIA community.
"Our country is being divided by a government and opposition party that should be uniting us around the common agendas of human rights, equality, dignity and respect. And yet food and fuel poverty, job insecurity, cuts in benefits to our most vulnerable, child poverty, our NHS being worked to the bone and hate crime are all on the increase."
Speaking about her own experiences, she added: "I have been on the receiving end of the leadership's attacks, despite serving as a councillor for 15 years, as mayoral lead for equality and Lord Mayor and increasing the Labour majority in my ward over four terms.
"I was treated with utter contempt, with my name dragged through the mud for having the temerity of offering myself as a candidate for Liverpool’s elected mayor. But the decision of Sir Keir Starmer to actively engage and seek support from the Murdoch press despite the feelings of the whole of Merseyside was unforgivable.
"Petty personality politics wastes time and provokes demoralisation and I want to spend my time supporting the people of our great city. As an independent councillor I will continue to fight passionately for my residents and the city without being held back by a timid national leadership or distracted by the internal fights in the party."
Cllr Rothery is the second Liverpool Labour Councillor to quit the party this week, with Clubmoor representative Sarah Morton also resigning her membership.
Cllr Morton posted on Twitter: "I no longer need to be in the Labour Party to do my job. It's had a profound effect on my mental health, staying in.
"Why would I do that when it makes no difference at all to my residents? They're a disgrace. I'm out. #independentSarah."
An email sent to Liverpool Labour councillors by chief whip Ruth Bennett said: "Cllr Anna Rothery has resigned her membership of the Labour Party and will now sit as an independent councillor.
"We are all sad that Anna has taken this decision and this will be a difficult time for you as many of you will be Anna’s close friends."
The Labour Party has been approached for comment.
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