Disagreeing with aspects of party policy is “not a reason to jump ship” – says Deeside MP Mark Tami

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami has given his reaction following the resignation of eight Labour MPs who have left the party form a breakaway independent group.

Joan Ryan became the latest MP to quit Labour on Wednesday, following Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith and Ann Coffey who defected earlier this week.

The new Independent Group (IG) of MP’s cited the Labour leadership’s response to anti–semitism within the party; Brexit policy; and Corbynism itself as the reasons why they have left the party.

The eight ex Labour MP’s were joined on Wednesday by three Tories, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston.

In a joint statement, they said: “Sadly the Conservative Party has increasingly abandoned these principles with a shift to the right of British politics.

“We no longer feel we can remain in the party of a government whose policies and priorities are so firmly in the grip of the ERG and the DUP.”

A Labour spokesman criticised The Independent Group, saying they had formed “what is effectively an establishment coalition based on the failed and rejected policies of the past”, such as austerity, corporate tax cuts and privatisation.

Mark Tami, Labour’s deputy chief whip said it was “very sad” that the eight Labour politicians felt their best option was to leave the party.

A video shot on Wednesday by ITV Wales shows the Alyn and Deeside MP reacting to news that Tory MP Sarah Wollaston has defected to the new Independent Group.

This is the moment when Labour’s deputy chief whip @MarkTamiMP learned about the defection of Sarah Wollaston. We were filming with him and the other Labour whips for an item for next week. You can see the result in #SharpEndITV on Monday night @ITVWales pic.twitter.com/ELAkB4xqOK

— Adrian Masters (@adrianmasters84) February 20, 2019

Commenting, Mark Tami said: “Losing MPs is always disappointing and it’s very sad that these Labour politicians felt that leaving was their best option.

I am of the understanding that compromise is needed with any political Party; even if you do not agree with some aspects of your Party’s policy then this is not a reason to jump ship, you should instead try to influence from within.

Labour is a Broadchurch of ideas and we are most certainly a lot stronger together than we are separated.

We have now endured nine years of Tory austerity, the British people are at breaking point and I fear that this move from the former Labour politicians could strengthen the Tories position.

The news was sad, however the Labour Party are committed to campaigning to change this country for the better and we will be united in doing so.”