Tory defectors to the new Independent Group claim there are a 'significant number of MPs on the brink' of abandoning their parties as rebel politicians tell Conservative and Lib Dems 'please come and join us

  • Sarah Wollaston, Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen all joined the Independent Group in an historic new move 
  • The strongly pro-Remain MPs have been furious at the Brexit strategy pursued by Theresa May's Government 
  • In a damning letter, they said the Tories were 'in the grip' of right wing Brexiteers in the ERG and the DUP 
  • In response, May told them she was 'saddened' but delivering on Brexit was the 'right thing for our country'
  • Historic split in Labour happened on Monday when 'gang of seven' MPs stormed out in fury at Jeremy Corbyn
  • The Tory defectors to the new Independent Group claimed there were a 'significant' number of MPs in other parties on the brink of quitting as they pleaded 'please, come and join us'.
    Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen quit the Tory Party today in an explosive new development of the group launched on Monday by a 'gang of seven' ex-Labour MPs. 
    Ms Soubry said 'the Conservative Party has been very good to me. I served in two government as a minister... you don't leave a political party that you've called home for many years without a considerable amount of heartache'. 
    She appealed to 'fellow one nation Conservatives' and 'like-minded Lib Dems' to 'please, come and join us' in breaking away from their parties.  
    At a press conference in London, Ms Allen said she had been left 'feeling numb' by the state of the Conservative Party while Dr Wollaston said she had reached the conclusion she could neither stand again as a Conservative or ask people to vote Tory.   
    Ms Allen said a 'significant number' of other MPs in all parties were 'on the brink' of following the first 11 MPs to abandon their parties and join the new group. 
    The plea comes a day after Chuka Umunna, the ringleader of the ex-Labour MPs who quit on Monday, said the group would be a full-blown political party within months.  
    In a move designed to cause the maximum damage, the trio made their leap less than an hour before Mrs May faced MPs in the bruising weekly session of PMQs - and on the same day she has to convince Brussels she can pass a Brexit deal.  
    Vowing to stand in the 'centre ground' in a damning letter to Mrs May the group said they could not remain in the Tories while it was 'in the grip of the ERG and DUP'. They said Brexit has 'redefined the Conservative Party - undoing all efforts to modernise it' - and warning that the 'country deserves better' from its politics. 
    In an immediate response, Mrs May said she was 'saddened' by the decision and thanked the MPs for their 'dedicated service to our party over many years'.
    The PM vowed the Tories would 'always offer the decent, moderate and patriotic politics' Britain deserved. She said delivering Brexit was 'never going to be easy' but insisted she was 'doing the right thing for our country'. 
    The move puts rocket boosters under the new political movement that was launched by a 'gang of seven' ex-Labour MPs on Monday. It is the biggest split in British politics since 1981 and could set in motion a total realignment of the party system.  
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    Sarah Wollaston, Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen held for a press conference (pictured from left) to explain their historic defection out of the Tories and into the new Independent Group today 
    The ex-Tory rebels emerged into a vast press pack after resigning from the Tory Party in protest at it being taken over by the right-wing Brexiteers in the ERG  
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    The ex-Tory rebels emerged into a vast press pack after resigning from the Tory Party in protest at it being taken over by the right-wing Brexiteers in the ERG  
    The new political group has a majority of women - seven of the 11 MPs to have joined - in an almost unprecedented change of balance for a frontline force 
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    The new political group has a majority of women - seven of the 11 MPs to have joined - in an almost unprecedented change of balance for a frontline force 
    Eight ex-Labour MPs watched on at One Great George Street as their new ex-Tory colleagues addressed the press. They are (from left) Ann Coffey, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Chuka Umunna, Gavin Shuker, Joan Ryan and Angela Smith 
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    Eight ex-Labour MPs watched on at One Great George Street as their new ex-Tory colleagues addressed the press. They are (from left) Ann Coffey, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Chuka Umunna, Gavin Shuker, Joan Ryan and Angela Smith 
    The new Independent Group of MPs walked arm in arm from Parliament to the press conference held by the ex-Tory MPs today  
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    The new Independent Group of MPs walked arm in arm from Parliament to the press conference held by the ex-Tory MPs today  
    Heidi Allen (centre in black), Anna Soubry (shakling hands in blue)  and Sarah Wollaston (right in the blue scarf) greeted their new colleagues as they took their seats in the House of Commons against Theresa May at PMQs 
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    Heidi Allen (centre in black), Anna Soubry (shakling hands in blue)  and Sarah Wollaston (right in the blue scarf) greeted their new colleagues as they took their seats in the House of Commons against Theresa May at PMQs 
    Mrs May (pictured today at PMQs) said she was 'saddened' by the MPs' decision and vowed the Tories would 'always offer the decent, moderate and patriotic politics' Britain deserved  
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    Mrs May (pictured today at PMQs) said she was 'saddened' by the MPs' decision and vowed the Tories would 'always offer the decent, moderate and patriotic politics' Britain deserved  
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    In a damning letter to Mrs May, the group said they could not remain in the Tories while it was 'in the grip of the ERG and DUP' - adding Brexit has 'redefined the Conservative Party - undoing all efforts to modernise it'
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    In a damning letter to Mrs May, the group said they could not remain in the Tories while it was 'in the grip of the ERG and DUP' - adding Brexit has 'redefined the Conservative Party - undoing all efforts to modernise it'
    Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Ann Coffey and Mike Gapes left Labour in rage at Mr Corbyn's leadership as they triggered the new movement on Monday (pictured) 
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    Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Ann Coffey and Mike Gapes left Labour in rage at Mr Corbyn's leadership as they triggered the new movement on Monday (pictured) 
    A sensational poll by YouGov puts the new independent group in third place on 14 per cent - appearing to pull support from both Tory and Labour 
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    A sensational poll by YouGov puts the new independent group in third place on 14 per cent - appearing to pull support from both Tory and Labour   
    • Three Conservative MPs resigned from the party and joined the new Independent Group. Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen said their party had been taken by right-wing Brexiteers
    • The MPs blasted Theresa May for her 'dismal failure' to stand up to the Eurosceptic wing of the party, protesting despite their abuse the ERG were who she turned to after her deal was destroyed
    • They join eight ex-Labour MPs who quit their party in fury at Jeremy Corbyn, claiming he tolerated anti-Semitism, allowed bullying and was a national security threat 
    • In response Theresa May said she saddened by the decision and thanked the MPs for their 'dedicated service' to the party 'over many years'.
    • But she defended her decision to deliver Brexit - insisting it was the 'right thing for our country' even though it was 'never going to be easy for the Tory Party 
    • A snap poll suggested the Independent Group is already the third most popular political force in Britain with support from 14 per cent of voters - pulling support from all the main parties
    • But Labour sources have dismissed it as an 'establishment coalition' of politicians who backed austerity, corporate tax cuts and privatisation.