Labour MPs mull party breakaway to form centrist movement in wake of Brexit divisions

A handful of Labour MPs are rumoured to be on the brink of leaving their party to create a new centrist movement in the wake of dissatisfaction over Brexit.

Up to six Labour MPs are thought to be prepared to walk away from the Labour party because of its stance on Brexit, anti-semitism, immigration and other issues, according to the Observer.

Those thought to be considering their options are Angela Smith, Chris Leslie and Luciana Berger, who told the newspaper that their focus at the moment was opposing Brexit.

Former shadow chancellor Leslie dismissed the talk of a breakaway but told the newspaper: “A lot of people’s patience is being tested right now. I think there are some questions we are all going to have to face, especially if Labour enables Brexit.”

Labour is facing pressure on all sides over Brexit. A number of its MPs and the grassroots movement Momentum have called on the leadership to back a second referendum or people's vote. As it stands the party's policy, agreed at its conference last year, is to advocate for a second referendum only in the event it cannot secure a general election.

A source close to the Labour leadership said: "A new party to protect the status quo will rightly be seen as an establishment stitch-up.

"Any new party set up to promote cuts, corporate control and privatisation will be strongly rejected at the polls.”

Liberal Democrat leader and former business secretary Vince Cable confirmed to Sky News that he had been approached by a "bigger group" than six MPs on the possibility of forming a new party.

He said he had also been talking to Conservative MPs who also wanted to oppose Brexit and secure a second referendum.

He said there was a "real chance of a significant group breaking away and we are ready to work with them".

Talk of a possible split within Labour comes as a new Opinium poll for the Observer shows the Tories ahead of their rivals by seven points, its biggest lead the 2017 general election when Theresa May lost the Conservatives their majority and left them reliant on the support of the Northern Irish party the DUP.  

According to the poll, Labour’s support dropped from 40 per cent  in the last poll to 34 per cent, while Tory support went up from 37 per cent to 41 per cent.