Seven U.K. MPs quit Labour, citing Brexit, anti-Semitism

LONDON — Seven British lawmakers quit the main opposition Labour Party on Monday over its approach to Brexit and antiSemitism — the biggest shake-up in years for one of Britain’s major political parties.

The announcement ripped open a long-simmering rift between socialists and centrists in the party, which sees itself as the representative of Britain’s working class. It’s also the latest fallout from Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, which has split both of the country’s two main parties — Conservatives and Labour — into pro-Brexit and pro-EU camps.

Many Labour lawmakers have been unhappy with the party’s direction under leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran socialist who took charge in 2015. They accuse Corbyn of mounting a weak opposition to Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans for leaving the EU, and of failing to stamp out a vein of antiSemitism in the party.

Those leaving Labour have between nine and 27 years’ experience in Parliament and represent constituencies across England, but still make up only a small fraction of Labour’s 256 lawmakers, or of the 650 total members of Parliament. But this is the biggest split in the Labour Party since four senior members quit in 1981 to form the Social Democratic Party.

Luciana Berger, one of those who quit Monday, said Labour had become “institutionally antiSemitic.”

“I am leaving behind a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation,” the 37-year-old politician said at a news conference alongside six colleagues.

The seven MPs said they will continue to sit in the House of Commons as the newly formed Independent Group.

Corbyn said he was “disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together” with the party.