Changed your mind already? Chuka among 6 MPs to leave flop new party
CHANGE UK was in turmoil last night after more than half of its MPs quit following the party’s woeful showing in the European elections.
Six of the Remain-supporting group’s 11 MPs – including leading lights Chuka Umunna and Luciana Berger – quit to sit as independents. Former Tory MP Anna Soubry took over as leader of the diminished band of Change UK MPs.
Last night there was speculation that the independents – including Mr Umunna and former Change UK interim leader Heidi Allen – might join the Liberal Democrats.
Outgoing Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said he had heard the ‘rumours’ but did not want to comment before an official announcement.
It marks an ignominious end to the fourmonth grouping of former Labour and Tory MPs. Following its high-profile launch in February, Change UK did not get a single candidate elected in last month’s European elections when it received only 3.4 per cent of the vote.
Instead the Lib Dems benefited from the support of those backing a second referendum. The latest polls show Change UK is languishing on just 1 per cent of the vote.
New leader Miss Soubry said: ‘I’m deeply disappointed that our former colleagues have made this decision.
‘Challenging the established broken political parties was never going to be easy.’ The other four remaining Change UK MPs are former Labour MPs Chris Leslie, Joan Ryan, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey.
Those who left alongside Miss Allen, Miss Berger and Mr Umunna are the former Tory MP Sarah Wollaston and ex-Labour MPs Angela Smith and Gavin Shuker.
Miss Allen said the six MPs have decided to leave so they can ‘support each other as an independent grouping of MPs’.