EVERTON FC’s proposed move to Kirkby triggered an extraordinary spat between warring Labour MPs in the House of Commons chamber.

Rosie Cooper, the West Lancashire MP, condemned the fast-tracking of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) in the town centre – revealed last week – as “legalised bribery”.

The MP, a long-standing opponent of the £400m project, also urged ministers to step into what she branded a “disastrous scheme”.

But, minutes later, Knowsley North and Sefton East MP George Howarth slapped down Ms Cooper, telling her to “spend more time worrying about development of her own town centre”.

The clash, which triggered audible gasps from other assembled MPs, laid bare the tensions among politicians up to four months before a final decision on Tesco and Everton’s £400m scheme.

Ms Cooper launched a campaign under the heading “Don’t Let Tesco Eat The

Heart of Skelmersdale”, warning a go-ahead would spell doom for hopes of regenerating the town.

She fears £350m plans for Skelmersdale will be damaged by “a huge project just a few miles away down the M58”.