What the voters say…

Miriam Mirwitch, 25, Labour activist

‘I’ve found this really upsetting, and I’m firmly against splitting. I completely disagree with the others’ reasons for leaving, but I can understand Luciana’s – her speech was heartbreaking [she said the party has become ‘institutionally anti-semitic’, adding, ‘I am leaving behind a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation’]. As a Jewish woman, I want to stay and fight against anti-semitism in the Labour party. But I have so many friends who are Jewish activists facing the same questions. It’s difficult to escape anti-semitic abuse at the moment if you are politically active and Jewish and, especially, a woman. I hope this is a moment of soul-searching.’

Joanne Vickers, 37, floating voter

‘My husband has just lost his job [when Honda announced it was closing the Swindon plant] and that’s not necessarily because of Brexit, but the fact that there is no clarity impacts everybody’s work prospects. We have a party that squabbles with itself, politicians who rant at each other on Twitter – that doesn’t get anything done. Any party that says, “We’re going to look at the centre ground, the commonsense approach” is attractive. There are things Chuka Umunna says that resonate with me, and when [former doctor] Sarah Wollaston speaks about the NHS or the impact of no deal, that also resonates – as a working mum of two, they are speaking sense to me. If you had that kind of combination, I think I’d vote for it in a heartbeat.’