CHANGE UK was in crisis yesterday after six of the fledgling party’s 11 MPs defected.
Barely three months after it formed, the party created by pro-Remain Labour and Tory MPs is already on its last legs.
It follows Change’s disastrous campaign for the EU elections, when they failed to get any MEPs elected, securing just 3.4% of the vote. Their lead candidate in Scotland even urged voters to back the LibDems.
The party was initially formed by seven Labour MPs, including Chuka Umunna, and Luciana Berger, who quit their party in protest over Jeremy Corbyn’s position on Brexit.
They were then joined by anti-Brexit Tory MPs Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston. Now only five remain. Soubry has become the leader, in charge of former Labour MPs Chris Leslie, Joan Ryan, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey
The split comes after the party, originally called the Independent Group, performed poorly in the EU elections.
The six quitters now sit as independents.
In a statement Soubry said: “I’m deeply disappointed that at such a crucial time in British politics our former colleagues have made this decision.
“Now is not the time to walk away, but instead to roll up our sleeves and stand up for the sensible mainstream centre ground which is unrepresented in British politics today. Going forward, the Change UK MPs are as determined to fix Britain’s broken politics as we were when we left our former parties.”
A joint statement from the six outgoing MPs said they would support each other “as an independent grouping”.
The MPs added: “We believe that our priority right now must be to provide collegiate leadership to bring people together in the national interest.
“We know the landscape will continue to shift within the political environment and have concluded that by returning to sit as independents, we will be best placed to work cross-party and respond flexibly.
“We wish our colleagues well as they continue to build Change UK.”
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