LABOUR peers are backing a Cumbrian colleague who was criticised for endorsing a national newspaper advert that derided Jeremy Corbyn's handling of anti-semitism allegations.

Lord Roger Liddle, who is also a Cumbria county councillor representing Wigton, was named in an emergency motion that was put before Penrith and the Border Constituency Labour Party calling for his expulsion from the party as a result of his support for the advert. It claimed that Corbyn's legacy was a party which welcomed everybody - "except jews."

The motion - discussed and voted on in a "private" meeting last week - won what insiders said was "overwhelming support."

Lord Liddle was one of 67 Labour peers who put their names to the controversial advert.

But the veteran Cumbrian Labour politician has declined to engage in a public row over the Penrith constituency attack on him.

He did, however, confirm that he remains willing to talk to party members directly about why he joined fellow Labour peers in supporting the advert.

At their weekly meeting, Labour peers added fuel to the criticism of Jeremy Corbyn and his handling of alleged antisemitism in the party.

Their motion sates: "We continue to be dismayed and ashamed by the handling of the antisemitism crisis by our Party Leadership as there is no question that the number of cases has soared over the last four years.

"We will as a group continue to speak out against antisemitism and stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish colleagues and brave former staff members and with all those fighting injustice.

"We also call for an end to the use of non-disclosure agreements for party staff.

"A fundamental change in the party leadership’s approach to these issues is necessary in the next few weeks and these changes must command the support of the Jewish community. In the meantime, the motion of no-confidence proposed by Jeff Rooker lies on the table. There will therefore be no ballot of Labour Peers this week.

"Finally, as a group we express solidarity with Hilary Armstrong and Roger Liddle who have had motions passed by local parties calling for their expulsion."

Dave Knaggs, who handles communication for the Penrith and the Border Labour Party, said last week that the peers who backed the Guardian advert were unelected and part of a relentless campaign against Jeremy Corbyn.

He said the Labour Leader had personally done everything he could to eradicate antisemitism in the Labour Party.

"So when you get a group of unelected people in the House of Lords do that it feels like a betrayal," he said.

In a letter to the News & Star, Labour Party member Shaun Halfpenny, from Wreay, near Carlisle, blasted Lord Liddle for saying: "The Labour Party should have nipped antisemitism in the bud".

That was in fact a statement made by Lord Alf Dubbs, who lives near Cockermouth and who refused to endorse the Guardian advert that attacked Jeremy Corbyn.

Corbyn has repeatedly said there is no place in the Labour Party for antisemitism, said a spokesman for the party.

The constituency motion calling for Lord Liddle's expulsion from the party will be considered by a Labour Party national committee which deals with disciplinary matters.