MP Dame Louise Ellman is to become the new chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

The Labour Liverpool Riverside MP replaces Joan Ryan, the MP who quit Labour over antisemitism, who will assume the role of honorary president.

This position was once held by former Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Dame Louise will lead LFI's workin among Labour MPs. LFI said she had been a "highly active" LFI member and a vice-chair for a number of years.

Dame Louise said: “Joan has been a tremendous and inspiring chair of LFI over the past four years.

"I look forward to working with her, and the rest of the LFI team in parliament, to stand up for Israel, fight anti-Zionism in all its ugly forms, and support a two-state solution, peace and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.”

Ms Ryan said: “I pledged to the Jewish community at last year’s LFI annual lunch that I would stand by it at all times in the battle against antisemitism.

"I believe my actions this year have honoured that pledge. Working with Louise, I will continue the battle as LFI’s new honorary president.”

LFI Director Jennifer Gerber said: “Joan Ryan and Louise Ellman have shown enormous courage, determination and strength in campaigning against antisemitism in the Labour party, and the hard left’s effort to demonise and delegitimise the state of Israel, over the past four years.

"LFI is enormously proud of them both, and delighted that they have agreed to work with us to make the case for Israel and a two-state solution, and fight the scourge of anti-Zionist antisemitism.”

They will be supported by our team of vice-chairs: Sharon Hodgson, Pat McFadden, Rachel Reeves, Jonny Reynolds and John Spellar.