7 Labour MPs resign from party over anti-Semitism and bullying

Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey are among the MPs from the party's centrist wing who have been the loudest critics of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, his stance on Brexit and his handling of allegations of anti-Semitism.

They issued an appeal to MPs from both Labour and other parties to "leave the old tribal politics behind" and join their new grouping.

• Reaction from North-East Labour MPs

In a Statement of Independence, setting out their values and approach, they promised to "pursue policies that are evidence-based, not led by ideology, taking a long-term perspective to the challenges of the 21st century in the national interest, rather than locked in the old politics of the 20th century in the parties' interests".

None of the current political parties in Westminster "are fit to provide the leadership and direction needed by our country", they said.

And they pledged: "As an Independent Group we aim to recognise the value of healthy debate, show tolerance towards different opinions and seek to reach across outdated divides and build consensus to tackle Britain's problems."

At a press conference at London's County Hall to announce their move, Mr Umunna issued an appeal to voters: "For far too long, political parties in Westminster - parties of which we have been a part - have been failing you.

"If you are sick and tired of politics as usual, guess what? So are we.

"If you want an alternative, please help us build it. The bottom line is this - politics is broken, it doesn't have to be this way. Let's change it."

In a call on other MPs to quit their parties, Mr Umunna said: "We've taken the first step in leaving the old tribal politics behind and we invite others who share our political values to do so too.

"You might come from a Labour background but you might come from other political traditions. Yes, it's a difficult decision - make no mistake about that.

"But you don't join a political party to spend years and years fighting the people within it. You get involved in politics, you join a party, to change the world.

"We invite you to leave your parties and help us forge a new consensus on a way forward for Britain."

Mr Leslie - a former shadow chancellor - said that Labour had been "hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left", while Ms Berger said she had come to the "sickening" conclusion that the party is now "institutionally anti-Semitic".

Mr Corbyn said he was "disappointed" at their decision.

"I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945," said the Labour leader in a statement.

"Labour won people over on a programme for the many not the few - redistributing wealth and power, taking vital resources into public ownership, investing in every region and nation, and tackling climate change.

"The Conservative Government is bungling Brexit, while Labour has set out a unifying and credible alternative plan. When millions are facing the misery of Universal Credit, rising crime, homelessness and poverty, now more than ever is the time to bring people together to build a better future for us all."

Ms Berger - who accidentally introduced herself as a "Labour Party MP", before correcting herself to "the Member of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree" - said the decision to quit the party was "very difficult, painful, but necessary".

The MP, who has been the target of anti-Semitic abuse and was provided with personal protection at last year's party conference, said she had become "embarrassed and ashamed to remain in the Labour Party".

"I have not changed. The core values of equality for all, opportunity for all, anti-racism against all and social justice - the values which I hold really dear and which led me to join the Labour Party as a student almost 20 years ago - remain who I am," she said.

"And yet these values have been consistently and constantly violated, undermined and attacked, as the Labour Party today declines to my constituents and our country before party interests.

"I cannot remain in a party which I have come to the sickening conclusion is institutionally anti-Semitic."

Ilford South MP Mr Gapes said he was "sickened that the Labour Party is now a racist, anti-Semitic party" and "furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit".

The former chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said that a Labour government led by Mr Corbyn would "threaten our national security and international alliances".

Stockport MP Ms Coffey, who has represented Labour in the Commons since 1992, said the party was "no longer a broad church".

"Any criticism of the leadership is responded to with abuse and accusations of treachery," she said. "Anti-Semitism is rife and tolerated."

In a statement on Facebook, Luton South MP Mr Shuker said Labour was "riddled with anti-Semitism, it presents a threat to our national security and it's perfectly content to enable the hard Tory Brexit that will directly and negatively affect people in Luton".

The Independent Group is due to hold its first formal meeting later this week, and released its first tweet just moments after being launched.

It said: "Today, seven MPs have left Labour and formed a new, Independent Group. They're from different backgrounds but are united in their belief that we can #ChangePolitics."

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Vince Cable, pictured above, who himself left Labour for the SDP in 1982, tweeted: "It is not unexpected, or unwelcome, that a group of Labour MPs have decided to break away from Corbyn's Labour; in part motivated by his refusal to follow the party's policy on Brexit. #LabourSplit."

He added: "The Liberal Democrats are open to working with like-minded groups and individuals in order to give the people the final say on Brexit, with the option to remain in the EU. We will be engaging in talks to progress both that campaign and a wider political agenda. #LabourSplit."

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, pictured above, posted on Facebook that Labour "should not and will not be distracted and divided" by the defections of seven MPs.

She said: "If you criticise or abuse these individuals, if you impugn their motives, and if you encourage any others to join them, you are helping them not hurting them, because you are taking your eyes off the prize and allowing our movement to be distracted and divided, which is exactly what they want.

"The only thing that anyone should do in response to the action of these MPs today is to respectfully and politely ask them a simple question: Do they intend to put up candidates in Labour-Tory marginals, and split the Labour vote?"

She questioned whether the Independent Group would stand in Labour-Tory marginals, adding: "Because if they do, we all know that the only effect of their actions will be to keep the Tories in power for another generation, and make a Tory Brexit more likely, not less, the one thing that everyone in our movement should be pledged to avoid."

Brexiteer Labour MP Kate Hoey tweeted that all seven of those resigning this morning were "prepared to completely ignore the result of the referendum - indeed most of them have spent their time in the chamber doing everything they could to stop Brexit".