There are seven MPs leaving Labour: Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith, Chuka Umunna, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey. They have revealed that they will call themselves ‘The Independent Group’.
They will publish a full statement of what they stand for this morning.
The MPs are setting out their reasons for leaving. Berger said she had become ’embarrassed and ashamed’ of the Labour Party, which she said was ‘institutionally anti-Semitic’. Leslie insisted that his values hadn’t changed, but said it would be ‘irresponsible’ to make Jeremy Corbyn Prime Minister and accused the Labour leader of a ‘betrayal’ on Europe.
Smith set out her family history and said the Labour Party now contradicted what her family had campaigned for. Shuker set out the values that this group stood for, though these were rather anodyne, such as ‘we believe in the innate power of individuals’ and ‘we believe in strong democratic institutions’.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in