In the News

Independent Group leave the Labour Party

Geoff Riley

18th February 2019

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Is this a day we will remember for the splintering of party politics in the UK? A group of seven MPs have resigned from the Labour Party and will sit in Parliament as an independent group.

Here is some of the immediate coverage of the decision on a landmark day for British politics.

BBC news: Seven MPs leave Labour Party in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's leadership

Guardian politics: Seven MPs quit Labour in protest over Brexit and antisemitism

Independent Group has a new twitter feed

Update on the state of the parties in Westminster

The state of the parties in parliament, updated https://t.co/GlR2ibmgWS pic.twitter.com/mJHaZ7BNQO
— John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) February 18, 2019

The following MPs have resigned from the Labour Party:

Chuka Umunna (Streatham)
Luciana Berger (Liverpool Wavertre)
Chris Leslie (Nottingham East)
Angela Smith (Penistone & Stocksbridge)
Mike Gapes (Ilford South)
Gavin Shuker (Luton South)
Ann Coffey (Stockport)
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) February 18, 2019

Liberal Democrat response

.@vincecable on the @TheIndGroup: pic.twitter.com/vNvBX86alD
— Lib Dem Comms (@LibDemComms) February 18, 2019

Ben Fullers excellent Politics twitter feed is strongly recommended

The #Conservative Party is now SIXTY SEVEN MPs ahead of #Labour in the #Commons. And this move will split the Labour Vote. This will only encourage those in the #Tory Party who want a #GE2019 in June 😱. But it doesn't change the HoC Brexit maths #LabourSplit #TheIndGroup https://t.co/YEox89OEXJ
— Ben Fuller (@politicsastar) February 18, 2019

There was a huge sense of optimism & great potential around the #SDP in 1981. Today feels so much more serious (#Brexit #Antisemitism) & yet more down beat. Everyone knows what an uphill struggle @TheIndGroup has ahead. #LabourSplit
— Ben Fuller (@politicsastar) February 18, 2019

I remember 1981: the #GangofFour started the #SDP, 28 #Labour MPs joined in the end. Are the #LabourSplit 7 the initial Gang of Four, or the final total? Time will tell. And only 1 #Tory MP joined the #SDP. Will any join @TheIndGroup? #LabourSplinter https://t.co/r8iDNXZVbZ
— Ben Fuller (@politicsastar) February 18, 2019

Robert Peston on the morning of the decision by the Independent Group to leave the Labour Party

The mystery is not that @ChukaUmunna and co have been planning to break away from Labour, it is why today. And the second question is whether the split will enhance or destroy prospects for an EU referendum or @peoplesvote_uk https://t.co/836uo3Aq0U
— Robert Peston (@Peston) February 18, 2019

"Politics is broken. It doesn't have to be this way. Let's change it" - Chuka Umunna sends a message to the British public after announcing his resignation from the Labour Party

More on the new independent group of MPs here: https://t.co/HNHlTARGC8 pic.twitter.com/E8fXWDl5Ad
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 18, 2019

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Geoff Riley

Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for nearly forty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD and Revision conferences in the UK and overseas.

@tutor2uGeoff