Widening rift; Here is why three more UK MPs have resigned

The Brexit war is far from ending with developments coming out each and every hour with the latest being a major blow to the PM.Theresa May has been hit with a bombshell Tory split after three of her most high-profile anti Brexit MPs quit the party.

Heidi Allen, Sarah Wollaston and Anna Soubry announced they were leaving today to join the Independent Group. It is a blow to the Prime Minister just hours before she returns to Brussels in a bid to get a deal 37 days before we leave.

The MPs will join the ‘gang of eight’ who quit Labour earlier this week to form the new pro-EU grouping in Parliament.

Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith, Ann Coffey, Mike Gapes, Chris Leslie and Joan Ryan all quit with a broadside at Jeremy Corbyn for failing to oppose anti-Semitism and Brexit .

Labour is now planning a law to oust MPs who quit their party by forcing them to face a by-election.The party will consult on a new law that – if Mr Corbyn becomes Prime Minister – would extend the right to launch a “recall petition”.

These petitions force MPs to re-stand for office if at least 10% of local voters, around 7,000 people, demand it. Currently they are used mostly for crime or serious breaches of Commons rules.

Labour’s remaining centrist MPs have threatened to join the splitters if Mr Corbyn – who said he “regrets” the saga – does not take a more conciliatory tone and act to resolve concerns.

One, Siobhain McDonagh said she is “not as yet” at the point of quitting but warned “it’s the job of Jeremy” to determine what happens next.She told media in UK”It’s my birthday today, I’m 59 today. I joined the Labour Party when I was 16.  I have been a member for 43 years.

“I don’t want to leave Labour. I don’t want to not be the MP for Mitcham and Morden. And I am desperate that that’s where we are.”

Meanwhile the Independent Group has had a rocky start to its political life.

It was hit by a race row within hours after Angela Smith, one of the seven MPs, was forced to apologize for using the phrase ‘funny tinge’ when referring to people’s skin colour.The new group’s only legal basis is a private company called Gemini A Ltd based above a Wetherspoons called The Unicorn.

The Electoral Commission watchdog has contacted the group after concerns were raised that Gemini A would not have to declare its private donors.

The group told the Media in the UK the situation would soon be clarified and it intended to follow Electoral Commission rules. It will have to register as a political party and declare all donations if it fields candidates in an election.

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