SEVEN Labour MPs dramatically quit the party to create a new Independent Group in the Commons, in the most significant split in UK politics since the breakaway of the Social Democratic Party in the 1980s.
Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey are among the MPs from the party’s centrist wing who have been the loudest critics of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, his stance on Brexit and his handling of allegations of anti-Semitism within Labour. They issued an appeal to MPs from Labour and other parties to “leave the old tribal politics behind” and join their new grouping.
In a “Statement of Independence”, setting out their values and approach, they promised to “pursue policies that are evidence-based, not led by ideology, taking a long-term perspective to the challenges of the 21st century in the national interest rather than locked in the old politics of the 20th century in the parties’ interests”.
And they pledged: “As an Independent Group we aim to recognise the value of healthy debate, show tolerance towards different opinions and seek to reach across outdated divides and build consensus to tackle Britain’s problems.”
However, within hours of the development Smith had to issue an apology, saying she had misspoke, after she appeared to describe people of colour as having “a funny tinge”.
At a press conference in London, Umunna issued an appeal to voters: “For far too long, political parties in Westminster – parties of which we have been a part – have been failing you. If you are sick and tired of politics as usual, guess what? So are we. If you want an alternative, please help us build it. The bottom line is this – politics is broken, it doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s change it.”
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell called on the MPs to do “the honourable thing” and stand down to fight by-elections in their
constituencies. His call was rejected by the MPs, with Leslie saying elections were the last thing needed “at this moment of crisis”.
Corbyn said he was “disappointed” at the group’s decision and that they “felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945”.
Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South and a Corbyn critic, called for Corbyn to listen and learn. He said: “The current Labour leadership is breaking the broad church this party once built its electoral success upon – a broad church which delivered Labour governments that lifted millions and millions of people out of poverty. The challenge now is for Jeremy Corbyn to listen and learn, and decide if he wants to keep the Labour Party together or if he will continue to foster a culture of bullying and intolerance where his own MPs feel unwelcome and are being forced out.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard gave his support to the direction the party was taking, saying: “The manifesto all Labour MPs stood on in the 2017 General Election was and remains a unifying vision. It saw the party make advances, including starting to win back seats in Scotland.”
But the SNP’s Ian Blackford said the split showed Labour is “not fit for purpose”.
He added that it would “strengthen Theresa May and make it more likely the Tories will stay in power through Brexit and beyond”.
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