Heidi Allen threatened to quit as Change UK leader over Lib Dem row

[T_i_B]

5. Chuka Umunna joins the Lib Dems after quitting Change UK

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48631116

Former Labour and Change UK MP Chuka Umunna has joined the Lib Dems. The Streatham MP told the Times he had been "wrong" to think "millions of politically homeless people... wanted a new option on the ballot paper".

"I also think I vastly underestimated the importance of having an infrastructure and existing relationships with voters," he added. He was one of six Change UK MPs to quit last week, after it gained only 3.4% of the vote in the European elections.

The pro-EU Lib Dems saw a surge in support in the same elections, coming second after the Brexit Party.

Former shadow business secretary Mr Umunna told the Times that the Lib Dems' success shows the potential for the party to be the "spearhead" of a "new progressive movement in this country".

A number of us have been on the same journey as Chuka Umunna since the referendum. Fed up of the tribalism, lack of pragmatism and at times rank dishonesty of the two main parties. Umunna's point about the importance of having an infrastructure and grassroots activists is also worth mentioning as something that Change UK (or the "Stronger In" campaign during the referendum) didn't pay nearly enough attention to.