JEREMY CORBYN and four other pro-Palestine independent MPs could form a new parliamentary group.
The former Labour leader, Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed have been exploring options on how they can affect policy more effectively.
Mr Adam, who unseated Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth to become MP for Leicester South, told the BBC that the group was “looking at options that would give us more access to the levers of power.”
The potential grouping of five independents would equal the number of Reform UK MPs and outnumber the Greens.
Last month they vowed to work with seven Labour MPs who had their party whip suspended for voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap to offer a “real alternative.”
They signed a letter in solidarity to the seven MPs — ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell, ex-shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey, Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Zarah Sultana and Imran Hussain — saying the punishment was “beyond disgraceful” and “displays a shameful absence of moral leadership.”
It is thought there has so far been no formal co-ordination between independent MPs and suspended Labour MPs.
Becoming an official group in Parliament would increase the independents’ chances of taking part in debates and committees, which are usually decided proportional to party size.
Established parties of five MPs have also previously been eligible for as much as £129,000 in “short money” — public funds given to opposition parties to support research — although parliamentary rules currently appear to prevent these funds going to new groups formed between general elections.
Mr Adam is calling on Parliament to improve the standing of independent MPs.
He predicted more independent MPs in the future “as more people are going to look at ways to be the representation and the change they want to see.”
Mr Corbyn, who defeated Labour to retain the Islington North seat, said: “I was elected by my constituents to speak out against the genocide in Gaza, against child poverty and against the demonisation of migrants and refugees.
“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.
“We are a movement for peace and justice and we are not going away.”
