More United: Group of 50 MPS join forces to tackle issues ‘ignored’ because of Brexit

Around 50 MPS have formed a cross-party campaigning network to tackle issues “ignored” because of Brexit.

Tory former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson and Labour former minister David Lammy are among the founders of the More United MP network.

Members will be able to lead cross-party campaigns on issues which have lost prominence because of Brexit, and those who do will be eligible to receive money and volunteers from the movement at general elections.

Almost £500,000 was raised through crowdfunding and 54 candidates were supported in 2017, the group said. Former education secretary Ms Morgan said: “All MPS come in to politics because they want to improve the

lives of the people they represent.

“Of course we don’t always agree on how to do that but where we can find agreement across party lines there is often a compelling case to be made to the government of the day. The More United Network will give MPS across the Commons a chance to do just that.”

Mr Lammy added: “A rare silver-lining to come out of the disastrous Brexit process is a new willingness among MPS to cooperate beyond traditional tribal loyalties.

“MPS have found that there is a special power in crossparty working and by publicly committing to seek out strong alliances that protect shared values, we can help create positive changes that benefit the entire country.”

Change UK’S Heidi Allen

and the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas are also founding members of the network.

The More United group was founded in 2016 following the Brexit vote, to encourage MPS to work cross-party in Parliament no matter who is in power. Over the past three years, the movement has grown to more than 150,000 people

More United chief executive Bess Mayhew said: “People see cross-party working as a proxy for trust in politics. When polling shows that only three out of ten people believe they can make a difference by getting involved in politics something has to change. By uniting MPS who can find common ground on divisive issues we want to show there is a way to move Britain forward and work together.”