CHERIE BLAIR IN ROW OVER RISING STAR

Luciana Berger, 28, is a friend of Cherie and former PM Tony Blair’s eldest son Euan and seen as a rising star.

But the choice of Miss Berger from Wembley has sparked outrage in the city after it emerged she had never heard of legendary Liverpool FC boss Bill Shankly or Gerry and The Pacemakers – the group behind Liverpool anthem Ferry Cross The Mersey.

But Mrs Blair, herself from Liverpool, has defended the choice, claiming “star quality” is worth more than local knowledge. She said: “It does not really matter where you come from, what matters is what you are going to give to your constituency and your country.”

Liverpool Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle branded Miss Berger “a student politician”. And TV’s The Royle Family star, Scouse actor Ricky Tomlinson, 70, is so “incensed” she has been “parachuted in” he has pledged to stand against her for the Socialist Labour Party.