The Independent Group: Seven Labour MPs quit party over Jeremy Corbyn's handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism

Seven MPs quit Labour in protest over anti-Semitism and handling of Brexit They will represent a new "Independent Group of MPs" Jeremy Corbyn said: "I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together"
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Labour was rocked by a historic split today as seven MPs walked out with savage criticisms of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and hinting at plans for a brand new political party.

The seven including leading modernisers Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger and Chris Leslie will sit as The Independent Group and are all fierce anti-Brexit camapigners.

Mr Umunna gave a strong signal that they aim to form a new centre party in future, saying: “The established parties are not up to this challenge... they have failed to fulfil their duties with the competence the public deserves.”

And he urged MPs from other parties to come on board saying: “It’s time we dumped this country’s old-fashioned politics... So we’ve have taken the first step in leaving the old, tribal politics behind and we invite others who share our political values to do so to.

MP Luciana Berger at the press conference today
Matt Writtle

“You might come from a Labour background, but you might come from other different political traditions.” At a crowded press conference at County Hall, the MPs attacked Jeremy Corbyn and the left-wingers now in control of Labour.

Ms Berger, who is Jewish, said: “I cannot remain in a party that I have come to the sickening conclusion is institutionally anti-Semitic.”

Mr Gapes said he was “sickened” by anti-Semitism and racism in the ranks.

Labour leader Mr Corbyn responded by saying he was “disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election.”

The launch, staged at County Hall overlooking Westminster Bridge, followed months of speculation and secretive meetings. An eighth MP is understood to have backed out at the last minute.

Political journalists were sent invitations to a mysterious event promising to make “a statement relating to the future of British politics”. In reality, everyone by then guessed what was going on because Mr Umunna and co had stopped answering their phones.

Over 100 reporters crammed into a room where a lectern - with the legend “The Independent Group” visible under a paper veil - stood in front of seven stools. There was no indication of who would sit in them.

Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna was among those who quit to join the group of independent MPs (Reuters)
Simon Dawson/Reuters

Finally at 10.10am, the group filed on stage, led by Ms Berger who was first to march up to the microphone.

“This morning, we have all resigned from the Labour Party,” said Ms Berger. “This has been a very difficult, painful, but necessary decision.”

Echoes of a historic rebellion

Analysis by Joe Murphy

Just in case you thought this was merely a walkout by disenchanted Labour MPs, the invitation to County Hall made clear it was intended to be far more significant.

“Announcement by a group of Labour MPs relating to the future of British politics,” it declared in an echo of the Limehouse Declaration of almost four decades ago, when David Owen, Shirley Williams, Bill Rodgers and Roy Jenkins spelled out their vision of a “realignment of British politics”. The declaration of 1981 by the Gang of Four led to the formation of the Social Democratic Party and a bid to “break the mould” of politics. A young Vince Cable was among the Labour activists who turned to the new centre-party banner.

 Chuka Umunna, who gave the strongest hints that the Gang of Seven plan a new party, appealed: “It’s time we dumped this country’s old-fashioned politics.”

For those of us with dim memories of furtive meetings at David Owen’s home in Limehouse in 1981, the parallels are fascinating.Four “ruinous” policies brought in by the Left were highlighted by Owen and Co: withdrawal from the European Community; unilateral nuclear disarmament; a return to wholesale nationalisation; and rule changes to disempower ordinary Labour MPs. 

Today’s complaints by the Gang of Seven are similar in many ways: a refusal to stop Brexit; state interference in business; Labour MPs disempowered by left-wing members; and now the stain of anti-Semitism. 

Did the SDP succeed in breaking the mould? Yes, but not perhaps in the way its founders hoped. The glory of high office went not to the Gang of Four but to those like a young Tony Blair who stayed to modernise from within.

All seven then made statements, each stressing their humble backgrounds and commitment to fighting for equality and against racism.

They listed Europe and the failure to curb anti-semitism as key concerns.

Ms Berger said: “For my part, I have become embarrassed and ashamed to remain in the Labour Party.

“I have not changed. The core values of equality for all, opportunity for all, anti-racism against all and social justice - the values which I hold really dear and which led me to join the Labour Party as a student almost 20 years ago - remain who I am.

“And yet these values have been consistently and constantly violated, undermined and attacked.”

Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie, MP for Nottingham East, said: “The Labour Party that we joined, that we campaigned for, and believed in, is no longer today’s Labour Party.

“We did everything that we could to save it.

“But it has now been hijacked by the machine politics of the hard Left.”

Blaming Mr Crbyn, he said: “British politics is now well and truly broken and in conscience we can no longer knock on doors and support a government led by Jeremy Corbyn or the team around him.”

He attacked “a narrow, outdated ideology” that was anti-business, and failed to back the police and security.

“They constantly pit one part of society against another because to them the world divides between oppressor and oppressed, class enemies, when in truth the modern world is more complicated than this,” he said.

“There is an appalling culture, intolerance, closing down of debate, abuse and hatred online as you are seeing this morning, and offline in party meetings, and anti-Semitism.

MP Mike Gapes said he was "sickened" and called Labour racist and anti-Semitic (Stefan Rousseau/PA )
Stefan Rousseau/PA

“We have no choice but to say collectively ‘enough is enough’ – there has to be a better way forward and there can be a better way forward.”

Mr Gapes, a former chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said: “I am sickened that the Labour Party is now a racist, anti-Semitic party.

“I am furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit, which will cause great economic, social and political damage to our country.

“Jeremy Corbyn and those around him are on the wrong side on so many international issues - from Russia, to Syria, to Venezuela.

“A Corbyn Labour government would threaten our national security and international alliances.”

There were hiuccups, with the new grpoup’s website failing to load and Ms Berger initially introducing herself as “the Labour Party MP”, before correcting herself.

Labour Party split: Seven MPs quit

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he is “deeply distressed” by the Labour split, but admitted the party has been “shockingly poor” at dealing with anti-Semitism.

Mr Khan said: “History tells us that when the Labour Party splits, it leads to the Conservative Party winning the next election and the one after that and the one after that.”

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said the breakaway involved “Remainers splintering to form a pro-EU party” and questioned whether some Tories could follow them.

Former Labour vice chairman Michael Dugher quit the party at the weekend blaming anti-Semitism.

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA transport union which backs a second EU referendum, said: “I’d urge anyone in our party thinking of bolting not to do so.”

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