Independent Group

**The Independent Group** is a group of eight former Labour Party MPs who have left the party to sit as independent MPs.

## History

On 18 February 2019, seven MPs announced that they would leave the Labour Party and form a new group called the Independent Group. Chuka Umunna stated that the group would not merge with the Liberal Democrats. On the 19 February, Umunna said that he hoped a new party would have formed by next year. Also on the 19 February, another Labour MP, Joan Ryan, announced she had resigned from the Labour Party to join the Independent Group. On 20 February, three Conservative Party MPs announced that they had resigned from the Conservative Party to join the Independent Group. On 21 February, Vince Cable, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, proposed a partnership between the Liberal Democrats and the Independent Group where the Liberal Democrats would not put forward any candidates in General Elections in seats where Independent Group MPs were standing. On 1 March 2019, it was announced that Umunna would be the group's spokesperson.

## Members

The members of the independent group are:

* Heidi Allen
* Luciana Berger
* Ann Coffey
* Mike Gapes
* Chris Leslie
* Joan Ryan
* Gavin Shuker
* Angela Smith
* Anna Soubry
* Chuka Umunna
* Sarah Wollaston

## Positions

The group states that they support a social market economy, personal liberties, equality of opportunities, fairly-paid, secure jobs, strong alliances with the European Union, environmental protection and devolution.

## Reactions to announcement

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he is "disapointed" by the split. The shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry criticised the group, saying that they would split the Labour vote and prolong the Conservative government.

## Controversy

The Labour Party have accused Ryan of accessing the party's database of Labour supporters after she left the party, so that she could encourage Labour supporters to support the Independent Group.  The party has reported this to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/18/chuka-umunna-and-other-mps-set-to-quit-labour-party
2. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47278902
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/19/chuka-umunna-hopes-new-party-will-be-created-by-end-of-year
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47300832
5. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/19/joan-ryan-eighth-labour-mp-quits-party-to-join-breakaway-independent-group
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/20/tory-mps-defect-independent-group-soubry-allen-wollaston
7. ↑ https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/vince-cable-says-lib-dems-wont-field-candidates-against-independent-group/
8. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/01/chuka-umunna-named-spokesman-independent-group-mps-policy-responsibilities-roles
9. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/independent-group-agenda-views-brexit-labour-party-mp-quit-luciana-berger-umunna-a8784366.html
10. ↑ https://www.theindependent.group/statement
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-labour-split-independent-group-mp-brexit-racism-antisemitism-a8784371.html
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/21/labour-reports-former-mp-joan-ryan-over-alleged-data-breach