List of MPs who have resigned from their political parties to join The Independent Group.
Chuka Umunna
Chuka Umunna resigned from the Labour party 18th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
In the EU Referendum, Chuka campaigned for Remain, taking a leading role in the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign. He also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration, which aims to find ways of bringing our different communities together.
Anna Soubry
Anna Soubry resigned from the Conservative party 20th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
Anna returned to the backbenches in July 2016. She is a founding member of the People’s Vote campaign for a referendum on the Brexit deal. She sits on both the Women & Equalities and Work & Pensions Select Committees of the House of Commons.
Luciana Berger
Luciana Berger resigned from the Labour party 18th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
At the General Election in 2015, Luciana was re-elected, securing almost 70% of the total number of votes. At the General Election in June 2017, with turnout up again, she secured 34,700 votes – almost 80% of the electorate.
Heidi Allen
Heidi Allen resigned from the Conservative party 20th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
Elected as the Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire in 2015 and again in 2017, Heidi Allen came to politics from business, having worked for 18 years in a variety of industries. Prior to running her own manufacturing business, she worked in the private sector for organisations such as ExxonMobil and the public sector with the Royal Mail.
Sarah Wollaston
Sarah Wollaston resigned from the Conservative party 20th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
In 2017 she was elected Chair of the Liaison Committee, the group of all Select Committee Chairs which regularly questions the Prime Minister.
Mike Gapes
Mike Gapes resigned from the Labour party 18th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
He is a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and is a former Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). He is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Crossrail. Mike is a season ticket holder at West Ham United.
Ann Coffey
Ann Coffey resigned from the Labour party 18th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
In November 2018 Ann led a debate in which she called for an independent review of the criminal justice system including consideration to be given to the abolition of jury trials in rape cases.
Chris Leslie
Chris Leslie resigned from the Labour party 18th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
From 2005 until 2010 he was the Director of the New Local Government Network, campaigning for more power to be devolved to local people – as well as a trustee of the national debt advice charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service.
Angela Smith
Angela Smith resigned from the Labour party 18th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
At the 2010 election, she was re-elected to Parliament as the MP for the new constituency of Penistone and Stocksbridge. After a spell as an Opposition Whip, Angela was promoted to the front bench as the Shadow Deputy Leader of the House in October 2011. In April 2014, she became a Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister, returning to the backbenches in September 2015.
Gavin Shuker
Gavin Shuker resigned from the Labour party 18th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
Since 2015, Gavin has served on the Women and Equalities Committee and in the All Party Parliamentary Group on Prostitution, where he has been an outspoken advocate for ending sexual exploitation of women and girls and for strengthening the laws around human trafficking.
Joan Ryan
Joan Ryan resigned from the Labour party 19th February 2019 to join The Independent Group of MPs
Joan was re-elected in the 2017 General Election with an increased majority of 10,247. She regained the seat in the 2015 General Election, having previously served as the representative for the constituency from 1997 to 2010.