Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is in talks with four other independent MPs in an effort to form a new Commons group. Six independent MPs were elected at the 2024 General Election, the most in modern history, including Corbyn. If a pro-Palestinian group is successful in forming, it would match the number of Reform UK MPs and outnumber the Greens.
Although nothing has yet been confirmed, Leicester South MP Shockat Adam, who unseated Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth, stated the group was “looking at options that would give us more access to the levers of power”. Corbyn and Adam have been speaking with Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, and Iqbal Mohamed, all of whom beat Labour candidates in July’s election on account of their pro-Palestine stance in Labour-supporting constituencies with large Muslim populations.
If the five independent MPs formed an official group, they could receive an additional £129,000 in public funds given to opposition parties to support research and help them hold the government to account, known as “short money.” An official party grouping receives £22,295.86 in short money for every seat won at the general election. If Labour’s huge majority is taken into account, however, it remains unclear how successful a force the independents will be in Parliament.
Despite this, the coalition has already started working together to try to influence policy. Together with Green MPs, they tabled a series of amendments to the King’s Speech. One of their first moves was to contact the seven Labour MPs, all former Corbyn allies, who were suspended from the party for six months after voting in favour of a rebel amendment to scrap the two-child benefit.
Mr Corbyn said: “I am proud to work alongside my fellow independent colleagues to make sure our constituents’ voices are heard. This country is demanding real change – and the more MPs who are prepared to stand up for international law, defend refugees, and oppose the far-right, the better.”
Mr Adam, who ran for office for the first time in 2024, won his seat by 979 votes from former Labour shadow minister Mr Ashworth. As current rules favour larger parties in setting debates and senior committee roles, he is calling on parliament to improve the standing of independent MPs. Mr Adam predicts that there will be more independent MPs in the future, saying that “normal people can win an election.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
