The Independent Group: Labour and Tories brace for more walkouts as historic split shakes political landscape

WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Both Labour and the Conservatives are braced for more walkouts as the creation of a new independent grouping of MPs continues to rip through the political landscape.

The Independent Group (TIG) said they expected to see more MPs join them as it emerged former prime minister David Cameron tried to persuade Tory MPs not to turn their backs on the party.

High-profile ex-minister Anna Soubry, one of three Conservatives who announced their defection to the new group on Wednesday, said Mr Cameron asked her and others to remain in the Tory Party.

She told The Times Red Box podcast that Mr Cameron sent those who would later leave the party a text saying: "Is it too late to persuade you to stay?"

Former British Conservative Party MPs Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston defected from the Tories on Wednesday 
REUTERS

Heidi Allen, another defector, said that around 100 of her former colleagues on the Tory benches shared her frustrations at the direction of the Conservative Party. Ms Allen told ITV's Peston: "I'd say a third of the party."

As attacks on the Prime Minister from ex-Tory MPs intensified, Ms Soubry accused Theresa May of having a personal "problem" with immigration.

Ms Soubry told BBC2's Newsnight: "The only reason why she will not agree to the single market is because of free movement of people.

"And I think what's really worried me about Theresa, and she has history in the Home Office that supports this, because I'm an old barrister, I look at the evidence, and I think she's got a problem with immigration. I really, honestly do."

Anna Soubry (blue jacket) and Sarah Wollaston (blue scarf), with Luciana Berger (red jacket) arrive to speak after quitting their respective parties
PA

Asked if she meant it was a personal rather than policy issue for the PM, Ms Soubry said: "Oh yeah, I think she has a thing about immigration and I don't know where the hell that's come from.

"Because in a modern Conservative Party, when you again look at the evidence, you know, if we don't have all these people that come and do all this work in our country, who on earth is going to do it?"

Tory former attorney general Dominic Grieve said he would leave the party if the Government backed a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Grieve told the BBC: "I can't predict where I might be if the party goes completely off the rails - that's another matter."

He added: "The Government which I am supporting implementing a no-deal Brexit - what would I do?

"I would not be able to maintain my support of the Government.

"I would have to leave the party."

Lord Peter Mandelson said he felt "morally compromised" staying in Labour following anti-Semitic abuse endured by people such as ex-Labour MP Luciana Berger.

The Labour peer told ITV's Peston: "When I look at the sort of anti-Semitic abuse to which Luciana Berger has been subjected, but not alone, many others in the party, I feel ashamed, I feel actually quite morally compromised staying in a party that can spew out so much hatred towards other members of their own party.

"Now what is Jeremy Corbyn going to do about this? I mean, this risks growing from a splinter into a cavernous split in our party if he doesn't take action to stop it."

Lord Mandelson urged Labour MPs to remain in the party.

The defections of Ms Soubry, Ms Allen and Sarah Wollaston from the Tories took the number of TIG MPs to 11.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in