Change UK loses more than half its MPs after pro-EU party flops in polls and tears itself apart
REMAINER party Change has lost half its MPs today after a blazing row over whether to work with with the Liberal Democrats.
Just 106 days after their launch. six of the breakaway party's MPs - including the interim leader Heidi Allen - chose to quit the group, following weeks of troubles, gaffes and in-fighting.
Sources claimed Ms Allen – a former Tory – recommended last week that the party should dissolve after their disastrous European Election results.
But in heated make-or-break talks yesterday, ex-Tory Anna Soubry and former Labour MP Chris Leslie insisted they would keep going.
In a statement, Ms Allen said that by “returning to sit as independents we will be best placed to work cross party”.
The anti-Brexit movement said they will now sit in Parliament as independent MPs, but there's speculation they could now join with the Liberal Democrats.
One source said they were convinced that Ms Allen and fellow ex-Tory Sarah Wollaston had already received offers to join them
Tories Ms Allen and Sarah Wollaston also walked out after rows behind the scenes, but Anna Soubry stayed behind and took the reigns up as leader of the remaining 5 MPs.
Luciana Berger – another to quit – is understood to have held talks about a ‘non-aggression pact’ with Lib Dems in her Liverpool Wavertree constituency.
They said in a joint statement today the priority for the beleaguered party must be to "provide collegiate leadership to bring people together in the national interest".
Furious new leader Ms Soubry said earlier: "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."
And in a thinly veiled dig at Ms Allen, Mike Gapes – an ex-Labour MP who is also staying on – said: “Those of us with political experience knew we’d be in this for the long haul.”
Chuka Umunna – a former Labour Shadow Business Secretary - immediately launched a new website under ‘The Alternative’.
He said: “The Remain forces need to work even more closely together.
“We need to regroup and consolidate activity to maximise our impact.”
In March a group of Labour MPs left over Jeremy Corbyn and the party's failure to tackle anti-Semitism, and three Tories quit to fight for a second referendum.
But the party have made a series of huge errors and ended up polling just 3.4 per cent in the European elections and not getting a single MEP elected.
And at the time Ms Soubry attacked Ms Allen for the "bizarre" idea that people should vote tactically for the Lib Dems in some parts of the UK.
Remainers the Lib Dems did much better and swept up many more people who wanted a second referendum.
After today's split they were urging the leftover Change UK MPs to come over and join them.
Lib Dem leadership hopeful said earlier: "Change UK’s swift demise shows that my reluctance from the beginning to discuss mergers and pacts, and to hold firm in our belief that the Liberal Democrats are the clear home for all who want to stop Brexit, was the right call.
"Anyone who signs up to our core liberal values of liberty, equality and community would be welcome to the newly invigorated Liberal Democrats."
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The collapse completes a farcical three months for a party that vowed to “crush” the Lib Dems and become the clear centrist threat to the Tories and Labour when they launched.
There was confusion over branding as the party went from being called the “Tiggers” – the Independent Group – to Change UK.
As the polls turned against the new party, MEP candidate Rachel Johnson joked she appeared to have joined a “sinking ship”.
Insiders said the split showed that some – such as Mr Leslie and Ms Soubry – had long-held differences with the Lib Dems on issues such as security and law and order.
Change UK's constant gaffes meant they were never taken seriously as a political force
- Angela Smith referred to ethnic minorities as having a "funny tinge"
- The party's logo was rejected because it didn't meet the right specifications - including using a hashtag
- Their name has changed several times from The Independent Group, confusing voters
- The party had a row with Change.org over their name
- It consistently bombed in the polls
- Humiliated after an MEP candidate quit over anti-Romanian and pro-Brexit tweets
- Failed to get a single MEP elected
- Have I Got News For You forced to pull an episode with Heidi Allen in as it was too close to an election
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