[Abernathy]

The Group of Seven are the former Labour MPs who announced their departure from the Labour Party today :

Chuka Umunna, Angela Smith, Chris Leslie, Luciana Berger, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker, and Anne Coffey.

I think that this is significant, as, although this is not yet a new or fully fledged political party, it was indicated particularly by Chuka that this may represent the genesis of a new movement within British politics. He also invited colleagues from other parties to join the group.

I think it will be interesting to see how the grouping develops - or otherwise - this may well be a short lived topic thread. There is a view that the movement to the extremes of both main parties - the Tories to the extreme right, Labour to the extreme left, leaves a vast area of ground for a new centrist political movement to pitch its tent on. Will this be the way things go? What are the implications for the other mainstream parties, including, let's not forget, the Lib Dems.

That's what this thread is for - fill yer boots.

[Winegums]

There's a suggestion that they're deliberately not standing as a party to avoid certain requirements to disclose funding.

So far they're doing great

[Malcolm Armsteen]

And the smears begin...

[Winegums]

It's just a rumour pet. It is weird they've agreed to leave, set up a press conference and a website and everything, but not formed a party or a set of policies.

[mattomac]

Do you have a job Winegums?

[Winegums]

As discussed, registrar in Paediatric Medicine

[bluebellnutter]

It's nice to not feel politically homeless for five minutes at least.

[Winegums]

[The Weeping Angel]

Do you have a job Winegums?

Doctor apparently.

[Winegums]

It's nice to not feel politically homeless for five minutes at least.

Genuinely, what about them makes you feel like you have a political home? They don't have policies.

[bluebellnutter]

Jeremy Corbyn supporters celebrate emergence of new thing to blame for his lack of success

https://newsthump.com/2019/02/18/jeremy ... f-success/

[Abernathy]

Not a political party. Yet. Which is perhaps a little frustrating.

However, the envisaged trajectory seems to be that it may well become a full political party in due course.

There does seem to be a fair bit of interest. The website had crashed under the volume of visits earlier this morning.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Richard Burgon doesn't know that the Labour Party is a coalition.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Thick as mince.

[Daley Mayle]

I agree that the MPs should face by-elections. It is not democratic to win a seat based on the candidate being a member of the Labour party and its manifesto and then now claim to be an Independent.