Breakaway pro-EU MPs formally set up new party to fight Euro elections

The Independent Group formed by breakaway ex-Labour and Tory MPs has become a fully fledged political party and will fight the European elections.

The new party, Change UK – The Independent Group, will stand on a pro-EU platform calling for a second referendum.

The party claims to have had more than 3,700 applications from people wanting to stand as Change UK candidates in the March 23 poll and it has begun the process of shortlisting and interviewing potential MEPs.

Some 70 candidates will be fielded by the party after it completed the registration process with the Electoral Commission.

But the party’s proposed logo – the letters TIG with #Change underneath – was rejected by the elections watchdog because it was “likely to mislead voters, contains a link to online material”.

“Change UK – The Independent Group have a clear message in the European elections: we demand a People’s Vote and, if it is held, all our MPs will campaign to remain in and reform the European Union.”

“We are David, and they are Goliath – but we can do this together,” she said.

The party will launch its election campaign on April 23.