Seven MPs Leave Labour Party

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.

He said Labour was "a family", adding: "We shouldn't splinter in this way.

"It is better to remain in the party, fight your corner."

The 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".

Chris Leslie said the seven would have their first formal meeting "in a few days" time to "assign roles and responsibilities".

The group rejected comparisons with the SDP - 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.

None of the current political parties in Westminster "are fit to provide the leadership and direction needed by our country", the statement adds.

After months of debate behind closed doors, seven Labour MPs have gone - each with their own tipping point. For Luciana Berger, anti-Semitism, bullying and intimidation was central; for Chris Leslie "Brexit was the tipping point".

It was clearly a painful decision for Mike Gapes - emotion etched on his face.

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 what's interesting is who wasn't, as well as who was, on stage.

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.

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. I look forward to a future serving with colleagues who respect each other."

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".

In a statement, Mr Corbyn said: "I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945."

He added: "The Conservative government is bungling Brexit, while Labour has set out a unifying and credible plan."

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".

Dave Prentis, leader of the Unison trade union, said the split was "terrible news" for working people because "split parties don't win elections". His message was echoed by GMB leader Tim Roache, who described the MPs' actions as "unforgiveable", adding that they were "hardly the Magnificent Seven".

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, said there was a "strong whiff of hypocrisy" about the resigning MPs because they had stood on a manifesto at the 2017 general election that "promised to respect the 2016 referendum taking us out of Europe".

Jon Lansman, the founder of the pro-Corbyn Momentum campaign group, said he had "personal sympathy" for Ms Berger because of the "hate and abuse" she had suffered and accepted more had to be done to tackle anti-Semitism.

But he said the other six MPs were malcontents opposed to Mr Corbyn's leadership, telling BBC Radio 4's World at One: "These are people who are not heavyweights and do not have clear policies."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said the split was "not unexpected, or unwelcome" and his party was open to "working with like-minded groups and individuals in order to give the people the final say on Brexit, with the option to remain in the EU".

Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis said the resignations had confirmed that Labour "has become the Jeremy Corbyn Party - failing to take action on everything from tackling anti-Jewish racism to keeping our country safe".

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, whose new Brexit Party launched earlier this year, tweeted: "This moment may not look very exciting but it is the beginning of something bigger in British politics - realignment."

The resignation of seven Labour MPs leaves Jeremy Corbyn with 248 MPs under his leadership. For now, the new group will sit as independents, but could soon form a new political party.

Five other MPs are already sitting as independents after leaving the Labour Party for various reasons, but they are not part of an organised group.

Separately, Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya was kicked out of the party when she was jailed in January.

There are two other independent MPs - former Lib Dem Stephen Lloyd, who quit his party because he disagrees with them on Brexit, and North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon - a former Ulster Unionist - who is the only one in the current Parliament to be elected as an independent.

Parties are membership organisations that are registered with the Electoral Commission and stand candidates in elections. They also have a leader.

The new group of former Labour MPs has not reached this stage yet. It will exist, initially at least, as a group of like-minded MPs who vote together on key issues, like Brexit.

One major advantage of forming a party - rather than just a Parliamentary group - is that you qualify for government money to help with research, which may be a factor in the new group taking the next step.

FROM  bbc.com/news/uk-politics-