Breakaway MPS set up new party

The Independent Group formed by breakaway exlabour and Tory MPS has become a fully fledged political party and will fight the European elections.

The new party, Change UK – The Independent Group, will stand on a proeu platform calling for a second referendum.

The party claims to have had more than 3,700 applications from people wanting to stand as Change UK candidates in the 23 March poll and it has begun the process of shortlisting and interviewing potential MEPS.

Some 70 candidates will be fielded by the party after it completed the registration process with the Electoral Commission.

But the party’s proposed logo – the letters TIG with #Change underneath – was rejected by the elections watchdog because it was “likely to mislead voters, contains a link to online material”.

Change UK’S interim leader Heidi Allen said: “This is a fight for Britain’s voice in Europe.”

Ms Allen pleaded for donations to a “fighting fund” to allow Change UK to challenge the established parties.

“We are David, and they are Goliath – but we can do this together,” she said.

The party will launch its election campaign on Tuesday 23 April.