Pro-EU Independent Group rebels announce new party Change UK

REMAINER rebels who quit the Tories and Labour over Brexit will become a fully fledged party in weeks to try and keep the UK in the EU for good.

The group of splitters, who all want a second Brexit referendum, announced today they have applied to become a party called 'Change UK - The Independent Group' and Heidi Allen will be their interim leader.

The news was first revealed by The Sun last week, as members of the group said they would "easily" find candidates.

They think that a long Brexit extension is on the cards which would mean they could stand to be MEPs in Europe too.

That's only possible if MPs reject the PM's deal today, and she's forced to go back to Brussels and seek a long extension to Article 50 to avoid a No Deal.

The EU elections will take place in May, and candidates have to put themselves forward weeks beforehand.

It will mean that Britain could have elected representatives in the European Parliament for another five years.

But Tories say that voters would be furious with the idea of having to vote to elect MEPs almost three YEARS after they voted to leave the EU.

Ex-Tory Heidi Allen MP said today "If we are to deliver on our ambition to change politics for the better, it is vital that we attract support from people from every walk of life, every political background and none.

"We in Change UK, as we hope to be known, don't just dream about a fairer and better future for our country, we are determined to unleash it through hard work, passion and shared endeavour."

And Chuka Umunna MP, the group's spokesperson added: "There is clearly an appetite for an alternative to our broken politics which needs fundamental change, as shown by the disastrous Brexit process which has occurred under the watch of the two main parties.

"A new party will shake up the two-party system and provide people with an alternative that can change our country for the better."

But petitions website Change.org is taking legal advice after the name change today - and could launch an official challenge to the name

The campaigns corporation warned it could take action and was seeing what could be done.

A spokesman said: "Change.org UK or @ukchange is a movement of 17 million people in the UK.

"We empower ordinary people to start petitions and campaign to create the change they want to see.

"Change.org UK or @ukchange as we are interchangeably known is totally independent of party politics, always has been and always will be.

"We are seeking guidance on the proposed use of our brand name by those reported to be setting up a new political party."

One of the members of the group accidentally said 'Change.org' in the Commons today by mistake too.

The 11 MPs caused chaos in Westminster last month when they left their parties and joined the Independent Group.

Several from Labour said Jeremy Corbyn's failure to tackle anti-Semitism or properly oppose Brexit was a major factor in their decision.

They were followed just a few days later by a string of Tories.

All the MPs want another Brexit referendum to keep Britain in the EU, but they have few policies at the moment.

However, they have polled well since they first set up as a group, and have reached 18 per cent in one snap survey.