A Labour councillor ousted from her seat after 15 years vowed "I'll be back" in a bitter farewell message that suggested tensions remain rife in the Liverpool Labour Party in the run up to the local elections .
City Centre councillor Sharon Sullivan said she wasn't going by choice but was "done in" by colleagues as she said her goodbyes at her final committee meeting as a councillor last night.
The long-standing member was one of many sitting councillors who lost the right to fight for their council seat at this year's local elections, in an extraordinary and bitter selection process across the last year.
But she does not appear to be giving up the fight - telling colleagues on the Social Care and Health Select Committee "you won't get rid of me that easily".
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She said: "I would like you to say thank you to everyone. I have been passionate about about health and social care for a long time because my mum had a care package for many years.
"Just to let people know I am not going of my own volition. I was done in. But as one door closes another one opens and a big door has actually opened for me.
"I wish everyone well. I have been very proud to be a councillor and to be on this committee.
"But I will be back. You won't get rid of me that easily. "
Cllr Sullivan was sat just a few seats away from central ward colleague Cllr Nick Small when she made the comments - which received a round of applause from some committee members.
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The pair fell out last year when Cllr Sullivan tweeted that she had found him working alongside rival candidate Maria Toolan in a bid to deselect her - something that was publicly condemned by Mayor Anderson.
Less than a week later Cllr Sullivan lost out to Ms Toolan by just one vote in a move that prompted angry scenes outside the Quaker Meeting House in Liverpool One.
The ECHO understands that around 15 sitting Labour Councillors - loyal to Mayor Anderson - gathered to comfort Cllr Sullivan after the dramatic result, with several in tears.
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There were also shouts of 'shame' aimed at those who had been perceived to be working against her during the selection process.
Cllr Small sat quietly in the council chamber as other members wished Cllr Sullivan well - but tweeted an election leaflet promoting Ms Toolan shortly after the meeting.
Ms Toolan is one of the many left-wing 'Corbynbista' candidates who could take their place on the local authority this year. Other candidates include Clubmoor candidate Sarah Morton and Anfield hopeful Lena Simic.
Voters will head to the polls on May 2nd to cast their vote - with the changing face of the Liverpool Labour Party expected to be one of the biggest outcomes of the result.
