The Independent Group

IronGiant

To be fair, whoever brought it up first would have been ridiculed by the other for suffering the same "shame".

Over by there

Chance to get voted back in next election.......

richp007

Anyone see the Three Musketeer press conference?

They talked a good talk, I'll say that for em. Attacked the ERG (why wouldn't you I guess), and right wing Conservatism, and claimed there were others considering joining their ranks too. Which I imagine there are.

I think in fairness expecting them to have policies and everything mapped out is a bit premature at this stage. But it'll be an interesting month to come before the 29th March. With them in the spotlight now too.

Stevie G

So this group are all anti-Brexit and want to be centrist. Isn't that the Lib Dems? Why not just join them and make a decent sized party?

Surely putting yourself on an anti-Brexit ticket means straight away you rule our half of your possible support. And then with the normal ConLab loyalties you've got your votes split between people who will always vote for one or the other and not risk the other getting in.

I guess that's why none of them are prepared to go for byelections as they want a few more years in the job. I mean, why let the people of your constituencies have a say in whether they want you to remain in place now that you've left the party people voted for on the manifesto they voted for.....

Personally I do think we need a credible more balanced, centrist alternative to the scary hard left that has taken over Labour and the veering more to the right of the Tories, but by having an anti-Brexit message as one of your main selling point means I'd have no interest. Likewise the Lib Dems. And with a Brexit deal (or no deal) seemingly getting closer it seems very shortsighted; other than that, what do they stand for?

richp007

With no disrespect @Stevie G I've seen a lot of people saying the same thing about joining the Lib Dem's. But surely everyone can see why attaching yourself to the name Lib Dem would be political suicide?

It makes sense to me what they've done, and I'm sure they are hoping several Lib Dems also get on board too.

I don't think it was a coincidence either that Soubry mentioned the Lib Dem/Tory coalition in her speech. And how she praised it. Clearly a battle cry to get some/all of them over.

Jaded1

Opportunists who think this is a better way to power. It'll fail, give it time.

nheather

Am I mistaken.

So Anna Soubry has stated

“felt honour bound to put our constituents' and country's interests first over Brexit”

Didn’t her constituents vote to leave?

Cheers,

Nigel

IronGiant

Only some of them...  

"Broxtowe: Leave vote: 52.5%* MP: Anna Soubry (Conservative) She voted to trigger Article 50."

*That's based on polls though...

nheather

Which would have been fine if she had said

“felt honour bound to put the minority of my constituents' interests first over Brexit”

or

“felt honour bound to put MY interests first over Brexit”


Also, what happens now.  Does this trigger 11 by-elections?  I don't see how a new party can just come into being with 11 MPs when they weren't voted in like that.

Cheers,

Nigel

Stevieboy_uk

I thought it was 54.6% to 45.4%?

I have no issue with her sticking to her principles but she should have stepped down from her position as MP if she is not prepared to accept what her constituents voted for (and the same goes if it was the other way around)!