Western Morning News (Saturday)
Breakaway MPs given poll boost
MORE MPs may be ready to quit their parties as the Brexit debate enters its final phase, Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston says.
Dr Wollaston left the Conservative party last week along with two Tory colleagues and eight Labour MPs to set up what is now being called The Independent Group (TIG).
The group – which is hoping to form a new political party – could attract a quarter of votes, according to the latest opinion poll, by Hanbury Strategy for the Politico website.
Other MPs who have not yet broken ranks have been talking to TIG, said Dr Wollaston, who has been given responsibility for recruiting potential defectors.
She said TIG has had interest from others looking to quit the Labour or Conservative benches, adding: “But I won’t be talking about that.”
Former Labour frontbencher Chuka Umunna was named yesterday as spokesman for the breakaway MPs.
The group does not have a formal leader but Mr Umunna’s role suggests he will play a crucial role for TIG as it seeks to build its profile.
Dr Wollaston, a former GP, did not take the group’s health brief, which has gone to former Labour MP Luci- ana Berger. She said that as chair of the Commons Health and Social Care committee and the Liaison committee, she needed to remain in a more neutral position.
Dr Wollaston said they would like to form a new political party to provide a home for the millions of voters who found themselves adrift.
But she added: “It would be far worse to rush and get things wrong.”
TOTNES MP Sarah Wollaston has been given responsibility for recruiting new members to The Independent Group in the House of Commons.
The former Conservative, who quit the party with two Tory colleagues and eight Labour MPs last week, said she would be the “point of contact” for would-be defectors.
She said that “of course” the group has had interest from others looking to quit the Labour or Conservative benches, adding: “But I won’t be talking about that.”
Dr Wollaston, a former GP, did not take the group’s health brief, which has gone to former Labour MP Luciana Berger. She said that as chair of the Commons Health and Social Care committee and the Liaison committee, she needed to remain in a more neutral position.
Former Labour frontbencher Chuka Umunna has been named as spokesman for what is now being called The Independent Group (TIG) of breakaway MPs. The group does not have a formal leader but Mr Umunna’s role suggests he will play a crucial role for TIG as it seeks to build its profile.
Mr Umunna said: “We are not a political party and therefore do not have a leader, but the roles and responsibilities we have assigned recognise that all the members of our group have the right to be heard and a responsibility to provide leadership.
“Our structure is designed to be flexible to accommodate any changes as the group evolves and grows.”
Dr Wollaston said they would like to form a new political party to provide a home for the millions of voters who found themselves adrift as Labour and the Conservatives moved further to the Left and the Right.
But she added: “I hope people will bear with us. It would be far worse to rush and get things wrong.
“We’ve set out our values and principles on our website (theindependent.group), but we need to go out and talk to the public. If it’s all cooked up in a back room in Westminster, it won’t be very engaging.”
According to the latest opinion polls, TIG could now attract the support of 25% of voters.
Dr Wollaston said she had received a “huge pile of correspondence” since last week, most of it positive. “People have been stopping me in the street in Totnes and it has been really positive – though of course not 100% positive.
She said TIG had already had some success in shifting the Labour Party’s position towards backing a public vote on the final deal. The Prime Minister has also agreed to give MPs a say if her deal is rejected.