# Labour/Tory MPs may resign the whip on 14 February **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 3, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902 "2019-02-03T20:09:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/21 "2019-02-18T08:47:50Z")
Sky News reporting that there will be an announcement by a group of Labour MPs about the future of a British politics. Are we finally seeing the split? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/22 "2019-02-18T10:15:49Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Sky News reporting that there will be an announcement by a group of Labour MPs about the future of a British politics. Are we finally seeing the split? Seven Labour MPs just resigned from the party - they are going under the name The Independent Group. Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith Ann Coffey, Mike Gapes, Chris Leslie, Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/23 "2019-02-18T10:44:25Z")
Interesting times - Ann Coffey is my local MP as it goes and is very solid here. Some moderate voices to balance out the more polarising figures of Berger and Umunna. Some good speeches that felt real, but not getting much of a bigger picture or vision of what the next steps are. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/24 "2019-02-18T11:16:15Z")
Will any Tories break? I notice they’re not forming a new party but sitting as independents, perhaps to entice Tories. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/25 "2019-02-18T11:18:23Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > Will any Tories break? I notice they’re not forming a new party but sitting as independents, perhaps to entice Tories. I imagine Anna Soubry’s phone is currently very busy. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/26 "2019-02-18T13:01:20Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I imagine Anna Soubry’s phone is currently very busy. It would probably (sadly) be the end of her career if she did, Broxtowe is a marginal seat as it is and she’s not particularly popular here. That said, I’d vote for her or any other member of this Independent Group over Tory or Labour at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/27 "2019-02-18T18:07:48Z")
I find it hilarious that the Corbyn Cult is demanding by elections for all seven. I’m not the only one on Twitter pointing out the irony of seeking a new election after two years to make they still have the confidence of the people. Of course, a People’s Vote would be the exact same thing! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/28 "2019-02-18T18:46:31Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith Ann Coffey, Mike Gapes, Chris Leslie, Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna [Carnac the Magnificient]Name seven new candidates for the Democratic nomination.[/Carnac the Magnificent] ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/29 "2019-02-18T19:44:37Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I imagine Anna Soubry’s phone is currently very busy. For such a prolific twitterer she’s been rather quiet today. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/30 "2019-02-19T23:30:51Z")
Joan Ryan has quit Labour, making 7 become 8. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/31 "2019-02-20T11:15:51Z")
And now three Tories have resigned and joined the Independent Group: Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston. Just in time for Prime Ministers Questions! ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/32 "2019-02-20T11:29:46Z")
[BBC News link.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47306022?fbclid=IwAR0GIkphV-p4Wqpv1T8mAZPm2fNhtIuZdfLeZxRTLW-yTSrq1ycrYHbAjGE) Pleased to see Soubry’s joined them. Already seeing calls for her to resign and force a by-election, sadly, along with people saying the same about Chris Leslie. I think MPs have better thinsg to do right now than force unnecessary elections… ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/33 "2019-02-20T13:33:22Z")
I’m not the only one on Twitter pointing out the irony of asking the MPs to stand for a new election two years after they were elected to make sure they still maintain the confidence of the people while the Leavers oppose a People’s Vote. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/34 "2019-02-20T13:49:44Z")
Putin sits backs, and watches with a smirk. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/35 "2019-02-22T16:02:09Z")
Another one gone: Ian Austin leaves Labour. > **[EXCLUSIVE: Ian Austin MP latest to quit ‘broken’ Labour Party](https://www.expressandstar.com/news/politics/2019/02/22/exclusive-ian-austin-mp-latest-to-quit-broken-labour-party/)** > > Ian Austin told the Express & Star that he had become 'ashamed of the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn'. There’s a satirical Twitter account that had a great quote: the Labour Party, for the cult, not the many. Pretty much sums up Labour under Corbyn. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/36 "2019-02-22T17:41:18Z")
What is the “Black Country” referred to in the article, as the area he was representing? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/37 "2019-02-22T18:38:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > What is the “Black Country” referred to in the article, as the area he was representing? It’s a coal mining area historically. Nothing to do with race. > **[BBC - Black Country - History - What and where is the Black Country?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2005/03/15/where_is_the_black_country_feature.shtml)** > > Where does the Black Country start and end? Who coined the phrase 'the Black Country'? Read on to learn more about the region. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/38 "2019-02-22T20:19:05Z")
Who brought race into it? I just wanted to know what part of the country it was. ---
**Author:** ![filmstar-en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@filmstar-en](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmstar-en)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/39 "2019-02-25T13:18:14Z")
The Black Country is west of Birmingham towards Wolverhampton where was a coal seam very near the surface and gave rise to polluting heavy industry. I daresay it is somewhat lighter hued in these post industrial times. But the name lives on referring to the local culture and dialect. The boundaries of the Black Country are open to interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902/40 "2019-02-25T17:58:20Z")
Labour now backs a second referendum. Obviously, there were many more defections yet to come. I don’t think Corbyn really gives a hoot about the EU, he’s far too interested in Israel and Venezuela rather than his own continent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/labour-tory-mps-may-resign-the-whip-on-14-february/828902.md?page=3)