In the News
Independent Group leave the Labour Party

18th February 2019
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:
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) February 18, 2019
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)
Liberal Democrat response
.@vincecable on the @TheIndGroup: pic.twitter.com/vNvBX86alD
— Liberal Democrats Media (@LibDemPress) 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
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 18, 2019
More on the new independent group of MPs here: https://t.co/HNHlTARGC8 pic.twitter.com/E8fXWDl5Ad
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