THE Independent Group of MPs (TIG) was facing potential legal action by a civic campaigning group today, just hours after unveiling its new choice of name.

The parliamentary caucus, which was founded by pro-austerity and anti-Brexit Labour and Tory MPs in February, announced that they had applied to register as “Change UK — The Independent Group” so they can fight European elections if polls are held on May 23.

Nominations for such elections would close on April 24, though Prime Minister Theresa May is currently holding out strongly against the prospect of British participation.

However if polls are called, TIG spokesman Chuka Umunna said Change UK would be putting forward a large number of MEP candidates with backgrounds outside of politics, which he characterised in a video presentation as the “many Heidi Allens” strategy.

Ms Allen, who first became an MP in 2015 and has voted in favour of welfare cuts 16 times since, has been appointed intermin leader of the prospective party.

Mr Umunna 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.”

However the group’s formal launch ran into trouble almost immediately yesterday after Change.org, which supports citizens in organising campaigning petitions, complained that the new name was likely to cause confusion.

And in an embarrassing goof, TIG MP Anna Soubry underscored such concerns by accidentally referring to her new party as “Change.org” while announcing its creation in Parliament.

It is understood that the petition site is seeking legal advice and is set to challenge TIG’s name of choice to the Electoral Commission.

A Change.org UK spokesperson said: “It is said that imitation is a form of flattery.

“But the movement that we have built to win campaigns for ordinary people is ours — all 17 million of us.

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