Pay based on use Get Started Purchase a Team or Enterprise subscription for per week You will be billed per month after the trial ends<doc-sep>That will not be easy. The seven rebel lawmakers will sit as independents in Parliament, having decided not to establish a new political party, at least for now. Doing so is difficult in Britain because the country’s electoral system makes it hard for smaller groups to win representation in Parliament. A faction that splintered from Labour in the 1980s to form a centrist social democratic party ultimately failed. Nevertheless, in some parts of Europe, new political forces have exploited the weakness of existing parties, including in France where President Emmanuel Macron successfully created a new centrist movement. In Britain, Mr. Travers noted, there is “a gaping gap” in politics. Under Mr. Corbyn, Labour has both its most left-wing leader in decades and a lifelong critic of the European Union, who has resisted demands from some of his lawmakers and party members to support another referendum on Brexit. The Conservatives have their schisms as well. Within the governing Conservative Party of Prime Minister Theresa May, Brexit has been embraced with enthusiasm by party activists, who tend to be older and more nativist. This has strengthened the hand of hard-liners, including lawmakers who meet as the European Research Group, some of whom are happy to contemplate leaving the European Union without any agreement. That has left the party’s more pragmatic lawmakers on the defensive, confronting the prospect of something they fear could be an economic catastrophe. Several of the more pro-European Conservative lawmakers have been threatened with deselection by their local parties, a development that mirrors the faction-fighting within Labour. While there is a vacant space at the center of Britain’s politics, the middle-of-the-road Liberal Democrats have failed to recover the credibility they lost with voters during their coalition government with the Conservatives from 2010 to 2015.<doc-sep>Seven MPs leave Labour Party in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's leadership Published 18 February 2019 media caption MPs resign from Labour over Brexit and anti-Semitism Seven MPs have resigned from the Labour Party in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's approach to Brexit and anti-Semitism. They are: Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker and Ann Coffey. Ms Berger said Labour had become institutionally anti-Semitic and she was "embarrassed and ashamed" to stay. Mr Corbyn said he was "disappointed" the MPs had felt unable to continue working for the policies that "inspired millions" at the 2017 election. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said the "honourable thing for them to do" would be to stand down as MPs and seek to return to Parliament in by-elections. Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson, in a video message on Facebook, urged the "hard left" to stop celebrating the departure of the seven MPs, saying it was "a moment for regret and reflection not for a mood of anger or a tone of triumph". media caption John McDonnell: Resigning MPs have 'responsibility' to call by-elections "Betrayal narratives and shouting insults at the departed might make some feel better briefly but it does nothing to address the reasons that good colleagues might want to leave," said Mr Watson. He said Luciana Berger's decision to quit was a "wake-up call for the Labour Party" over anti-Semitism, saying: "We were slow to acknowledge we had a problem and even slower to deal with it." Labour had to "broaden out" and become more tolerant, he said, adding: "I love this party. But sometimes I no longer recognise it, that is why I do not regard those who have resigned today as traitors." What is the new group trying to do? The seven MPs, who all back a further EU referendum, are not launching a new political party - they will sit in Parliament as the Independent Group. But Chuka Umunna said they had "taken the first step" and urged other Labour MPs - and members of other parties - to join them in "building a new politics". "It is time we dumped this country's old-fashioned politics and created an alternative that does justice to who we are today and gives this country a politics fit for the here and now - the 21st Century," he said at a launch event in central London. He said there would be "no merger" with the Liberal Democrats, who have 11 MPs, and the group wanted to "build a new alternative". The group rejected comparisons with the Social Democratic Party - which broke away from the Labour Party in the early 1980s but eventually merged with the Liberal Party - saying it was a different era and they would not be contesting by-elections. In a founding statement on its website, the group sets out its approach to the economy, public services and security, as well as Brexit. One of the seven MPs, Angela Smith, has, meanwhile, had to apologise after being criticised for a comment about skin colour on BBC Two's Politics Live programme. media caption Angela Smith criticised over skin colour comment In a discussion about race, the MP appeared to say: "It's not just about being black or a funny tinge." She has since posted a video on Twitter apologising for the comment, adding: "I am very upset that I misspoke so badly." Could more MPs defect to new group? image copyright PA By BBC Political Correspondent Iain Watson Defections to the Independent Group are likely to increase - but it will need to attract some of those beyond Labour to become a proper "centre party". Two more MPs were undecided about whether to be at the launch, one of them was 90% but clearly not 100% there. And more still may be persuaded to go unless they see a more robust response to anti-Semitism. But strong supporters of the Blair/Brown governments such as Peter Kyle and Ben Bradshaw are staying to fight their corner on Brexit and it's likely in the short term the numbers who do go will be small. This is no simple centrists v left, or indeed, ultra left split. However, the reaction of left-wing activists to today's drama could be crucial. If they feel fired up to de-select those who share the politics of the defectors but who have no intention of leaving Labour, the splinter could yet become a more sizeable split. What did the defecting MPs say? Each of the seven took turns to explain their personal reasons for quitting the party. Ms Berger said: "I am leaving behind a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation." Chris Leslie said Labour under Mr Corbyn had been "hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left". Mike Gapes said he was "sickened that Labour is now perceived by many as a racist, anti-Semitic party" and "furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit". Whatever you think of these seven leaving Labour it is clear it’s been a huge decision for them all - you can see it on their faces, no joy in it for them and they know the abuse they will get and are already receiving — Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) February 18, 2019 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. View original tweet on Twitter How did it go down with other Labour MPs? Senior Labour figures, including former leader Ed Miliband and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, expressed their dismay at the split, with Mr Khan saying on Facebook that the seven MPs were friends of his but he would not be joining their new group and it was a "desperately sad day". I deeply regret the decision of my former colleagues to leave Labour. Labour's values are still my values and a Labour government is the best hope for the country we need. Labour must and will continue to be a broad church as it has always been. — Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) February 18, 2019 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. View original tweet on Twitter<doc-sep>11:09 A leading Labour critic of Jeremy Corbyn, the former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, has said a majority of the party’s Scottish MPs and MSPs now backed a second EU referendum. Speaking at a People’s Vote press conference in Edinburgh, Dugdale suggested there was deepening opposition among backbenchers to Corbyn’s stance on Brexit, even among those who are otherwise loyal to his leadership. That extended to Labour MSPs at Holyrood, most of whom now backed a referendum on Brexit, she said. Two Scottish Labour MPs, Ian Murray in Edinburgh South and Martin Whitfield in East Lothian, already back the proposal. Many Scottish Labour figures believe Corbyn’s pro-Brexit stance will cost the party seats and votes at the next general election, with the Scottish National party the most likely to benefit. Dugdale said that over the weekend Paul Sweeney, the widely-tipped Labour MP for Glasgow North East and Ged Killen, the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, also supported a second referendum. Killen resigned from his frontbench role as a parliamentary aide last year over Corbyn’s Brexit stance. That suggests Richard Leonard, Dugdale’s successor as Scottish leader, faces deepening splits on Europe even though no Scottish Labour parliamentarians have so far backed the new breakaway group. Leonard implied the breakaway group could make it harder for Labour to defeat the Tories. He said in a statement: When young people are fighting for action on climate change, it is time to come together for the future, not divide. The Tory party’s failed solutions represent a dead end. We must do nothing to let them off the hook. Dugdale, who resigned as Scottish leader in 2017 partly because of her deep differences with Corbyn, distanced herself from the breakaway group on Monday by insisting she still wanted to see a Labour government. But she added:<doc-sep>
Seven Labour MPs announced their resignations from the party on Monday morning after months of tension and disagreement over the leadership's handling of Brexit and antisemitism. The seven are: Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker, and Ann Coffey. They will operate under the name the Independent Group. The group will sit as independent MPs in the House of Commons. "British politics is now well and truly broken," Chris Leslie, one MP said at the press conference. "The evidence of Labour's betrayal [on Brexit] is now clear for all to see." The group then called for cross-ideology action against Brexit, inviting MPs from all political parties to join their group. LONDON — Seven MPs announced their departure from Labour on Monday morning after months of tension and disagreement over the leadership's handling of Brexit and antisemitism within the party. The seven — Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker, and Ann Coffey — told a press conference in central London that they were quitting Labour to become independent MPs, operating under the name the "Independent Group." It is the biggest Labour split since a handful of senior figures walked away from the party in 1981 to form a centre-left party called the Social Democrat Party. "British politics is now well and truly broken," Chris Leslie, one of the seven departing MPs, said at the press conference on Monday morning. "The evidence of Labour's betrayal [on Brexit] is now clear for all to see." "We have no choice but to say collectively, enough is enough," the former shadow minister added, saying that the group believes Labour under Jeremy Corbyn is focused on a "narrow and outdated ideology." In a statement released soon after the announcement was made, the Independent Group said: "Our primary duty as Members of Parliament is to put the best interests of our constituents and our country first. Yet like so many others, we believe that none of today’s political parties are fit to provide the leadership and direction needed by our country. "Our aim is 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 party’s interests." Responding to the split, Labour leader Corbyn said 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." Labour splits after months of tension and speculation There was talk of a potential Labour split months prior to Monday morning. The party's most staunch pro-EU MPs have been unhappy with Corbyn's approach to Brexit and his refusal to support a new referendum. "I am furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit," Mike Gapes, the MP for Ilford South said on Monday. There is also frustration among MPs about the leadership's handling of the antisemitism crisis which has engulfed Labour over the last few years. A new report by the anti-racism group Hope Note Hate concluded that the Labour Party is not doing enough to tackle antisemitism in response to hundreds of allegations against its members. Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger, who is Jewish and has been at the heart of the party's antisemitism row, said she is leaving behind an "institutionally antisemitic" party that endorses "bigotry" and "bullying." "I am sickened that the Labour Party is now a racist and antisemitic party," her colleague Gapes said. Anne Coffey, who represents Stockport, added: "Antisemitism is rife and tolerated. The current leadership has been very successful in changing this party beyond recognition. "It is no longer a broad church. Any criticism of the leadership is responded to with abuse and accusations of treachery." Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images The Independent Group invited people from across the political spectrum to join them, with Umunna, one of the most fervent backers of People's Vote, making a clear appeal to rebels within the Conservative Party. "We invite you to leave your parties and help us forge a new consensus for the way forward for Britain." Umunna said that the group has not yet formalised official roles, including who will be leader. The group also ruled out fighting by-elections in their constituencies in the near future. By-elections are "absolutely not what is needed right now," Chris Leslie said.