This morning, seven Labour MPs announced they were resigning from the party and forming their own Independent Group. The seven in question - Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker and Ann Coffey - cited Corbyn's handling of anti-Semitism within the party as well as Brexit. All seven MPs favor remaining within the EU and want a second referendum.
But anti-Semitism seems to be the main driving force here. Berger has been a direct target of anti-Semitism among Labour Party activists and spoke about her experiences about it in the House of Commons in April 2018 declaring that anti-Semitism within the party had become "corrosive."
Things have not improved within the past year. Berger has become increasingly critical of Corbyn's handling of anti-Semitism with Labour Party members within her own Liverpool constituency responding with more anti-Semitism while attempting to deselect her.
Naturally there are those who believe these defections will help re-elect the Tories. But this assumes the seven MPs would be re-elected in their constituencies. There is no guarantee of that and others have argued the seven MPs should resign their seats and contest a by-election. Most Labour members are as blind in their devotion to Corbyn as Republicans are to President Trump. They will dig in their heels. Expect even more anti-Semitism from Labour Party activists and more tolerance of by Corbyn and senior Labour Party officials.
There are two other things to watch for in the coming weeks. First, if more Labour MPs follow suit. Second, if Tory MPs dissatisfied with May's bungling of Brexit will also defect. Would these ex-Labour and Tory MPs join forces to form, for lack of a better word, a third way?
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