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Change UK is set make an announcement at 3pm, I'm told
Lib Dem sources are strongly pushing back against reports of defections...
Lib Dem sources are strongly pushing back against reports of defections...
... strongly pushing back against defections today, that is
New: Change UK confirms that “several MPs” have left and that Anna Soubry is the new leader
6 MPs have quit Change UK - Umunna, Wollaston, Allen, Berger, Shuker, Smith
They're all set to sit as independent MPs for now although some are thinking of joining the Lib Dems. LD sources insist that defections are not imminent.
A Lib Dem source writes: "Turn and face the strange ch-ch-ch-ch changes"...
More info on CHUK: Soubry is permanent leader, not interim like Allen was. The party is going to spend the summer "party-building" and still plans to hold a conference later this year. The split was decided in a meeting this PM but there had been disagreements for a few weeks.
Some but not all of the MPs quitting CHUK today are expected to *eventually* join the Lib Dems. No movement expected today or this week, however.
A CHUK source suggests that the 6 were "spooked" by the Euro election results and had "started to worry about keeping their seats."
A CHUK source suggests that the 6 were "spooked" by the Euro election results and had "started to worry about keeping their seats."
Jo Swinson on the CHUK news 👀:
“In the last few days we’ve seen thousands of people who share our vision join the Liberal Democrats, and there’s plenty of room for more.”
“In the last few days we’ve seen thousands of people who share our vision join the Liberal Democrats, and there’s plenty of room for more.”
Ed Davey: "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."
