UK: 7 Labour MPS quit, more may follow
LONDON: Seven Labour MPS left the party on Monday, opposing leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit policy and approach on issues such as racism and anti-semitism, with more to follow.
The resignations raised the prospect of a realignment in British politics prompted by deep Leave and Remain divisions on the Brexit issue. The seven who quit were among 262 Labour MPS elected in the 2017 midterm election. Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson said the party must change to avoid more resignations, adding: “I love this party but sometimes I no longer recognise it”.
The seven MPS include Chuka Umunna, a candidate for party leadership after Labour’s 2015 election defeat; others – some of them lifelong members of the party – are Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker and Ann Coffey.
They will sit in the House of Commons as a group of independent MPS and will not resign as MPS that would force by-elections. They called themselves ‘The Independent Group’, with the tagline: ‘Politics is broken. Let’s change it’.
Among many Labour MPS uneasy with Corbyn’s vague Brexit policy, Berger said: “We can no longer knock on doors and support a government led by Jeremy Corbyn…the evidence of Labour’s betrayal on Europe is now visible for all to see”.
“Choosing to stand by while our constituents’ lives and future opportunities are hurt by Brexit is a fundamental violation of Labour’s traditional values”.
Umunna added: “If you are sick and tired of politics as usual, guess what? So are we. That’s why we have done what we have done today and why we commit to do things differently…if you want an alternative, please help us build it. Politics is broken, it doesn’t have to be this way.”
Responding to the resignations, Corbyn said he is “disappointed”, adding that these MPS have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election.
“The Conservative government is bungling Brexit, while Labour has set out a unifying and credible alternative plan”.