Luciana Berger
Luciana Berger, Baroness Berger | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 13, 1981 London, England, UK |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Member of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree (2010–2019); Member of the House of Lords (from 2025) |
Luciana Clare Berger, Baroness Berger (; born 13 May 1981) is a British political figure who represented Liverpool Wavertree as a MP from 2010 until 2019 and has been a Member of the House of Lords since 2025. Affiliated originally with the Labour and Co-operative parties, she was instrumental in founding The Independent Group, which later became Change UK, before switching allegiance to the Liberal Democrats. In 2023, Berger returned to the Labour Party.
Originating from London, Berger completed her higher education at the University of Birmingham and Birkbeck, University of London. She was active on the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Students, stepping down due to concerns regarding its handling of antisemitism. After joining Labour, she served as director for Labour Friends of Israel. Chosen through a centrally mandated all-women shortlist for Liverpool Wavertree, she secured election in 2010.
During her parliamentary tenure, Berger occupied shadow ministerial positions under Ed Miliband: Shadow Minister for Climate Change (2010–2013) and Shadow Minister for Public Health (2013–2015). As a backbench MP, she advocated against hazardous dog breeds, food insecurity, and gaps in corporate health and safety regulations. She was successfully re-elected in both 2015 and 2017.
Following Jeremy Corbyn’s appointment as Labour leader in 2015, Berger was named the inaugural Shadow Minister for Mental Health but resigned in 2016 due to policy disagreements. In February 2019, her constituency party passed no-confidence motions against her after she criticized Corbyn. Subsequently, she joined Change UK before becoming an Independent MP in June 2019 and later affiliating with the Liberal Democrats in September 2019. She contested Finchley and Golders Green in the 2019 general election but was not elected. Berger rejoined Labour in February 2023, receiving a warm welcome from leader Keir Starmer.
Early life
Berger was born and raised in London’s Wembley area, situated in north-west London. She is a great-niece of Manny Shinwell, a trade unionist and Labour MP who held ministerial roles under both the Ramsay MacDonald and Attlee governments, including serving as Secretary of State for War. Shinwell was of Polish Jewish heritage and is remembered for confronting a Conservative MP who told him to "get back to Poland."
Her father, Howard, studied law and initially practised as a solicitor before transitioning to operate a home furnishings business. Her mother, Antonia, works as an interior designer, authors children’s books, and previously served as a counsellor in a palliative care setting. Berger’s grandfather sold women’s clothing from a market stall, while her brother pursues a career as a professional musician.
Berger identifies her family background as culturally Jewish rather than religiously observant. She has emphasized the importance of Tikkun olam—the concept of "repairing the world"—which profoundly shaped her values from an early age. The Labour Party has been described by Berger as embedded within her "DNA" and "family heritage" throughout her upbringing.
Education
Berger attended Haberdashers' School for Girls, an independent school located in Elstree, Hertfordshire. She graduated with a degree in commerce combined with Spanish from the University of Birmingham in 2004 and was honoured as the university’s Alumna of the Year in 2012. Her studies included a year at ICADE in Madrid, Spain. Subsequently, she completed a part-time master's degree (MSc) focusing on government, politics, and policy at Birkbeck, University of London.
She served two years on the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Students (NUS) as an elected representative, co-leading its Anti-Racism/Anti-Fascism Campaign. In April 2005, she resigned from this position citing dissatisfaction with how the NUS addressed antisemitism. An independent investigation later cleared the NUS of neglecting antisemitism issues but criticized its complaint mechanisms and responses. The report also questioned Berger’s choice to attend an external meeting critical of the union rather than pursuing resolution internally.
Early career
Berger launched her professional journey at Accenture, a management consulting firm, working within its government strategy division from 2005 to 2006. In this role, she provided advisory services to the UK Treasury and various government departments focused on enhancing operational efficiency. Subsequently, between 2006 and 2007, she held the position of government and parliamentary manager at the NHS Confederation, where she advocated for the NHS in governmental circles. Alongside these roles, Berger managed a non-governmental organization dedicated to peace and security issues in the Middle East, collaborating closely with democratic socialist groups and trade unions.
Between 2007 and 2010, Berger was director of Labour Friends of Israel, resigning prior to the 2010 United Kingdom general election to pursue candidacy in Liverpool. During this period, she also served on the committee of the London Jewish Forum, an organization promoting Jewish community life in London, stepping down after her parliamentary election in 2010.
Selection as parliamentary candidate
In early 2010, Berger was chosen as the prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for Liverpool Wavertree by the local Labour Party branch. The selection process was governed by an all-women shortlist (AWS) mandated by the Labour National Executive Committee, which attracted criticism and allegations of an imposed candidacy. Throughout the selection, Berger stayed at the residence of incumbent MP Jane Kennedy; notably, Kennedy’s partner oversaw the selection procedure, with ballot papers being returned to their home. Kennedy affirmed that all protocols were properly followed. Berger secured the candidacy with a two-to-one majority over her closest competitor.
Backbencher
At the 2010 general election, Berger won her seat with 53.1% of votes cast.
Beginning in 2010, she actively campaigned against dangerous dogs and their owners. In response to numerous fatal attacks and thousands of injuries each year, Berger proposed legislation empowering law enforcement to intervene on private properties, issue dog control notices, and require mandatory microchipping for improved animal traceability.
On 31 October 2010, Berger appeared on a BBC Radio 5 Live program alongside former The Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie, a figure known for controversy, which led to public criticism. She explained that she had not been informed about other participants prior to the broadcast.
In March 2011, Berger initiated a campaign aimed at preserving BBC Radio Merseyside, opposing BBC plans to limit local radio programming to breakfast and drivetime segments.
As a member of Labour Friends of Israel, Berger encountered criticism in 2011 for not publicly defending Israel during her initial years in Parliament.
Berger advocated for permitting MPs to use Twitter within the House of Commons chamber, describing existing limitations as "anti-democratic" and underscoring social media’s importance for engaging with constituents.
She was an outspoken campaigner against food poverty, condemning it as a "national scandal." In 2012, she produced the documentary Breadline Britain to raise awareness of this issue. Berger was pioneering among MPs in securing parliamentary debates focused on food banks, raising the subject more than sixteen times.
In 2012, she highlighted legislative gaps allowing companies to shirk their health and safety duties and called for parliamentary measures to close these loopholes.
In 2015, Berger pursued Labour’s nomination for the newly established Metro Mayor role of Liverpool City Region but was not selected by August 2016. She remained the sole female candidate during this contest.
Following her election in 2010, Berger joined both the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and the Finance and Services Committee, resigning from these posts upon her appointment as junior shadow minister later that year. After returning to backbench status in 2016, she served on the House of Commons' Health Committee (renamed Health and Social Care Committee) until November 2019.
Antisemitic abuse
Since her selection as a parliamentary candidate and throughout her time as an MP, Berger has disclosed enduring a flood of antisemitic harassment.
In January 2013, Philip Hayes, a music promoter from Merseyside, was found guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence and fined £120 after directing antisemitic comments towards Berger at the Liverpool Music Awards.
Garron Helm, affiliated with the neo-Nazi youth group National Action, was sentenced to four weeks in prison in October 2014 for sending an antisemitic tweet aimed at Berger. Despite his conviction, comparable messages persisted on Twitter. Berger revealed that at the height of this abuse, she was targeted with approximately 2,500 hateful messages within three days. She took measures to enhance security at both her Liverpool and London homes and criticized Twitter for insufficient response to such harassment, calling for more decisive bans on racist language.
During the 2015 general election campaign, UKIP candidate Jack Sen was suspended following his publication of antisemitic tweets directed at Berger.
In December 2016, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a far-right supporter of Helm, was convicted of racially aggravated harassment against Berger and sentenced to two years imprisonment.
John Nimmo received a 27-month custodial sentence in February 2017 after admitting to multiple offences including sending death threats and antisemitic messages targeting Berger.
After Berger questioned Jeremy Corbyn’s office in March 2018 about his previous remarks concerning an allegedly antisemitic mural, she encountered additional online hostility reportedly from left-wing factions. She emphasized the widespread nature of antisemitism within the left and pointed out abusive activity on Twitter under the hashtag 'JC4PM', which supported Corbyn's campaign for prime minister.
In July 2018, Jack Coulson, a teenager fascinated by neo-Nazi ideology who allegedly threatened Berger’s life, was imprisoned for eight and a half months for possession of terrorist materials; he had also been previously convicted for manufacturing a pipe bomb.
Shadow Climate Change Minister and Shadow Health Minister
Berger served as Shadow Minister for Climate Change for three years, during which she criticized Conservative government policies on environmental issues, particularly focusing on the Green Investment Bank and the Green Deal. In an article for The Guardian, she promoted an agenda that aligned environmental concerns with business interests. Prior to the 2011 budget announcement, she challenged the Chancellor to satisfy "three Climate Change tests" in order to fulfill the Prime Minister's ambition of creating the "Greenest Government ever."
In June 2011, Berger successfully introduced an amendment to the Energy Bill that created a Green Deal apprenticeship scheme, mandating that the Secretary of State report on apprenticeship plans related to the Green Deal. Later, writing in The Independent, she expressed criticism of the Green Deal program due to its high interest rates and hidden fees that could diminish consumer savings.
On 8 October 2013, Berger was appointed Shadow Minister for Public Health. Although there had been previous parliamentary motions supporting NHS funding for homeopathy, Labour clarified that she fully endorses evidence-based medicine and that these earlier petitions would not influence her responsibilities.
At the 2015 general election, Berger increased her majority to 69.3%. Following Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour Leader in September 2015, she was appointed to his Shadow Cabinet as the inaugural Shadow Minister for Mental Health—a position without a direct government equivalent. She resigned from this role on 27 June 2016 amid widespread shadow cabinet resignations expressing concerns about Corbyn's leadership.
Re-election in 2017 and no confidence motions
During the 2017 general election, Berger successfully retained her seat, increasing her majority to 79.6%. Subsequently, she was appointed as the parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, a position she held until her departure from the parliamentary party in February 2019.
On 7 February 2019, members from her Liverpool Wavertree constituency tabled two no confidence motions against Berger, accusing her of "repeatedly" criticising the Labour Party leader. These motions were eventually withdrawn. Although the official reason cited was Berger’s criticism of party leadership, John McDonnell indicated that rumours regarding her possible involvement in establishing a breakaway party may have influenced these actions. Additionally, another Liverpool Jewish Labour MP, Louise Ellman, suggested that antisemitism played a role. Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, publicly supported Berger, condemning the harassment and animosity directed at her by certain local party members. Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair described the treatment Berger received as "shameful," emphasizing her effectiveness as an MP who was unfairly targeted within the party.
The Independent Group and The Independents
On 18 February 2019, Berger, along with six other MPs—Chuka Umunna, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker, and Ann Coffey—left the Labour Party in protest against Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership to establish The Independent Group, which later became known as Change UK. In her resignation statement, Berger characterised Labour as "institutionally anti-Semitic" and expressed that she was "ashamed to remain in the Labour Party." The group cited fundamental disagreements over Brexit and antisemitism as primary reasons for their departure. They subsequently expanded their membership by adding four more MPs—Labour’s Joan Ryan and Conservatives Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen, and Sarah Wollaston—increasing their total to eleven.
In June 2019, Berger exited Change UK and chose to serve as an independent MP. The following month, she co-established a new parliamentary group named The Independents.
Liberal Democrats
Initially in July 2019, Berger declared she had "no intention" of joining the Liberal Democrats. Nevertheless, two months later she became a member, attributing her decision chiefly to their anti-Brexit position. By December 2019, she remarked that unresolved antisemitism complaints had influenced her decision to leave Labour. After Jo Swinson was elected leader of the Liberal Democrats, Berger was appointed as spokesperson for health, wellbeing, and social care.
Berger was chosen as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Finchley and Golders Green in the 2019 general election. She selected this London constituency because of its large Jewish community, strong Remain vote during the EU referendum, and her personal connections to London where she intended to raise her children. In the election, Berger garnered 31.9% of votes cast but finished second behind Conservative Mike Freer, who won with 43.8% of the vote and an 11.9% majority.
Post-political career
On 1 July 2020, Berger took on the role of managing director for Advocacy and Public Affairs at the public relations agency Edelman UK, where her work centered on health, food and beverage industries, climate action, and energy-related policies.
During a June 2021 discussion with Jewish News, Berger stated she had "absolutely no regrets" about her departure from the Labour Party and hinted at a potential comeback to active political engagement.
Berger was named CEO of iNHouse, a Westminster-based PR and lobbying organization, on 10 October 2022. The firm capitalizes on its broad network within Parliament and government to deliver public affairs expertise.
In February 2023, Berger re-entered the Labour Party, an event publicly endorsed by leader Keir Starmer.
By December 2024, Berger was announced as a Life Peer in the 2024 Political Peerages list. She officially received the title Baroness Berger, of Barnhill in the London Borough of Brent on 6 February 2025.
Personal life and awards
Berger wed Liverpool music manager Alistair Goldsmith at Princes Road Synagogue in Liverpool in June 2015. Their first child, daughter Amelie, arrived in March 2017, followed by their son Zion in March 2019. She observes major Jewish festivals.
Throughout her time as a student activist and Labour MP, Berger was romantically linked with Euan Blair, son of Tony Blair, and with Chuka Umunna, who has been affiliated with Labour, Change UK, and the Liberal Democrats. While she denied any relationship with Blair, she acknowledged one with Umunna. In 2010, she dated former Labour MP and MEP Siôn Simon.
In recognition of her efforts to combat food poverty, including producing a film about constituents dependent on food banks, Berger was shortlisted for the Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Award in 2015.
She was appointed vice president of the Jewish Leadership Council in June 2019.