Imran Rahman-Jones

THREAD: Seven Labour MPs quit the party today. Here are seven questions and answers on what’s happened #LabourSplit

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— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) February 18, 2019

1⃣ Why have they resigned?

Mainly, they don’t agree with the party leaders on Brexit or the way it’s handled anti-Semitism claims #LabourSplit

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— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) February 18, 2019

2⃣ Who are they?

Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker and Ann Coffey.
They’re all quite critical of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and all want another referendum on leaving the EU #LabourSplit

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— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) February 18, 2019

3⃣ Are they starting a new party?

Not yet. They’re calling themselves the Independent Group.
But Chuka Umunna said they’ve "taken the first step" to creating a new party.
That would mean they could get some government funding #LabourSplit

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— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) February 18, 2019

4⃣ Will anyone else follow them?

The group is asking for more politicians to join them.
But other Labour MPs have committed themselves to the party.
Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable has suggested he might work alongside them #LabourSplit

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— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) February 18, 2019

5⃣ Has this happened before?

Yes. In 1981, four Labour MPs split from the party to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP) – which eventually became the Liberal Democrats #LabourSplit

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— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) February 18, 2019

6⃣ Why aren’t there by-elections?

It’s not a requirement – they’re allowed to stay on as MPs without a by-election.
Some people in the Labour Party want there to be by-elections so they can put up new candidates against the splitters #LabourSplit pic.twitter.com/dmjUhjTo2M

— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) February 18, 2019

7⃣ What does this mean for Brexit?

There are only seven MPs who have split right now, so it’s probably not big enough to swing any votes in parliament to do with Brexit.
If more people follow them, their power in parliament could be enough to make a difference #LabourSplit pic.twitter.com/TOHXRHCX7b

— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) February 18, 2019