Labour split: Seven MPs quit the party and the internet is divided

Seven Labour MPs have announced that they are leaving the Labour Party to form a new, independent group within parliament.

The group is comprised of MPs Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna, Mike Gapes, Ann Coffey, Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith.

The group's new website states:

There is a different way.

To change our broken politics, we need a different culture. The Independent Group aims to reach across outdated divides and tackle Britain’s problems together.

We all have the right to be heard. We can all make a difference. Sign up today to find out how you can join this movement for change and bring hope back to the country.

Conservative blog Guido Fawkes reports that Shuker registered the company in January 2019.

Jewish MP Luciana Berger opened preceedings with a damning indictment of her former party's leadership. She said that Labour had "failed" to address antisemitism and that she was leaving behind a culture of "bullying, bigotry and intimidation".

I have been embarrassed to remain in the Labour Party.

Other MPs, such as Umunna, criticised Jeremy Corbyn's approach to Brexit. Smith even stated that the Labour party had been "hijacked by extremists" and that they'll "never get the party back" to what it used to be. Gapes said the Labour Party is now a "racist" party. Across speeches by all seven members, Corbyn's refusal to listen to Labour members on Brexit or address antisemitism were the two most frequently cited concerns.

Corbyn responded to the split on Twitter.

Former leader Ed Miliband took a different tone, though he stated that he was staying in the party.

This sentiment was echoed by Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Lisa Nandy said this marks an "awful" day for the Labour Party.

Though MPs Lucy Powell and Jonathan Ashworth took a less favourable approach.

Though former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale criticised those who've urged people to quit the party.

While David Lammy called for a moment of "reflection".

Others declared that the split mean the "beginning of the end" for Corbyn.

Though others weren't convinced that a new centrist party is really what Britain needs.

So, to summarise, no one agrees on anything, which, at this point, seems like politics as usual.

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