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Independent Alliance (UK)

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This article is about the technical group of members of Parliament formed in 2024. For other uses, see Independent Alliance (disambiguation).

Independent Alliance
Founders
Founded2 September 2024; 3 months ago (2024-09-02)
House of Commons
5 / 650

The Independent Alliance is a parliamentary faction in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom comprising five members of Parliament (MPs) who were elected as independents.[1][2][3] The group is not a political party, but a technical group within Parliament.

The Independent Alliance was formed on 2 September 2024 by Jeremy Corbyn, formerly leader of the Labour Party, alongside Shockat Adam, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan and Iqbal Mohamed. All five members were elected as independent MPs in the 2024 United Kingdom general election. The formation was in part to gain more time to speak in parliament.[1][2][4]

Upon its formation, the Independent Alliance became the joint fifth-largest grouping in the House of Commons, ahead of the Green Party of England and Wales and Plaid Cymru with four MPs each, and tied with Reform UK and the Democratic Unionist Party with five MPs each.[1][2][3]

In the Independent Alliance's first statement, the group stated their opposition to austerity, the two-child benefit cap, the sale of arms to Israel and the abolition of the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners.[1][2] The Independent Alliance's MPs said they would welcome other MPs to join the group,[1][2] in reference to seven MPs who were suspended from the Labour Party in July 2024.[1][2][5] The Independent Alliance currently has five members.

History

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Background

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In the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Labour Party won a landslide victory, but a record six independent candidates were also elected.[5]

Three of the new independents—Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Shockat Adam—defeated the Labour incumbent MPs. Iqbal Mohamed was elected to the new constituency of Dewsbury and Batley, the predecessor of which elected a Labour MP in 2019. The results were suggested to be, in part, a push-back against Labour's stance on the Israel–Hamas war, the Gaza humanitarian crisis, and issues regarding Islamophobia in the Labour Party.[6][7]

Several more seats won by Labour in 2019 came close to being won by independent candidates—Ilford North, Bradford West and Bethnal Green and Stepney all saw Labour come within 5% of losing.[8][9]

In Islington North, incumbent MP Jeremy Corbyn had been forbidden from standing as a Labour parliamentary candidate by the Labour Party NEC despite "unanimous support" from his Constituency Labour Party (CLP).[10] After announcing on 24 May 2024 that he would stand as an independent candidate, he was fully expelled from the Labour Party.[11] Corbyn was comfortably re-elected against the Labour candidate with a majority of 7,247.[12][13]

On 23 July 2024, the Scottish National Party (SNP) tabled an amendment to the king's speech to scrap the two child benefit cap. Labour whipped its MPs to vote against the SNP amendment, resulting in the amendment being rejected by 363 no votes to 103 ayes. Despite the whip, seven Labour MPs rebelled by voting to abolish the cap and were suspended from the party for at least six months.[14][15] The seven Labour MPs suspended were John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana.[14][15]

Shortly after, Shockat Adam, Jeremy Corbyn, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan, and Iqbal Mohamed produced a joint letter decrying the two major parties and stated the need for a caring alternative.[16] Corbyn also stated that he was disappointed with Labour's actions, but dismissed the idea of forming a new political party as being premature.[17] Instead, Corbyn and Adam said they would continue working with Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed.[16][17][18] The five informally worked together with the Greens in tabling motions, and reached out to cooperate with the seven suspended Labour MPs.[16][18][19]

Formation and activities

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On 2 September 2024, Shockat Adam, Jeremy Corbyn, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan and Iqbal Mohamed announced the formation of the Independent Alliance.[1] The MPs stated they had formed the group so that they would be allocated parliamentary time to ask questions and speak in debates.[1] While the seven suspended Labour MPs were not founding members, the Independent Alliance's MPs said they would welcome other MPs who share their principles.[1]

During the launch of her campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch alleged the MPs had been elected due to "sectarian Islamist politics", and said the group was more worrying than the rise of the right-wing Reform UK.[20][21] In a joint statement, the five MPs of the alliance condemned the comments as dangerous and Islamophobic, particularly in the aftermath of the 2024 UK riots.[20][21] Ayoub Khan attributed death threats and harassment targeted at him to Badenoch's comments.[21]

In October, Shockat Adam introduced a private members bill seeking official UK recognition of the State of Palestine, with the bill being sponsored by the four other members of the Independent Alliance, as well as Siân Berry, Stephen Gethins, Brendan O'Hara, Liz Saville-Roberts, Kim Johnson, and Ian Byrne.[22][23]

The creation of the Independent Alliance raised questions on the status of Independent Members of Parliament and in December, the Procedure Committee of the House of Commons launched an inquiry on Independent MPs.[24] Although the inquiry will mostly deal with the status of parliamentary groupings by Independent MPs, it will consider the status of the whip suspended MPs too.[24]

Also in December, The Spectator claimed that the Independent Alliance is likely to form a political party in 2025.[25] According to The Spectator, Adam, Khan and Hussain are in favour of the creation of a political party to build a momentum but Corbyn is more hesitant.[25]

Policy aims

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In its first statement, the MPs of the Independent Alliance declared:

Millions of people are crying out for a real alternative to austerity, inequality and war – and their voices deserve to be heard. As individuals we were voted by our constituents to represent their concerns in parliament on these matters, and more, and we believe that as a collective group we can carry on doing this with greater effect.[26]

The group's MPs call for an end to austerity policies as well as the two child benefit cap.[1][2] The group's MPs also advocated against the abolition of the winter fuel allowance.[1][2]

In regards to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the ongoing Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, the MPs of the group call for a total arms embargo on Israel, an end to Israeli settlements, and immediate recognition of the State of Palestine.[20]

Members of Parliament

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As of its formation in September 2024, the Independent Alliance's members are:

Name Portrait Constituency First elected Joined
Shockat Adam Leicester South 4 July 2024 2 September 2024 (2024-09-02)
Jeremy Corbyn Islington North 9 June 1983
Adnan Hussain Blackburn 4 July 2024
Iqbal Mohamed Dewsbury and Batley 4 July 2024
Ayoub Khan Birmingham Perry Barr 4 July 2024

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Elgot, Jessica (2 September 2024). "Jeremy Corbyn to Form Alliance With Four Independent Pro-Gaza MPs". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Morrison, Hamish (2 September 2024). "Independent MPs, Including Jeremy Corbyn, Form 'Alliance' to Challenge Labour". The National. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Independent Alliance: Jeremy Corbyn and four independent MPs form new group". Sky News. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  4. ^ Marsh, Alex (2 September 2024). "Corbyn forms new group in Parliament with four other MPs". Islington Gazette. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b Francis, Sam (2 September 2024). "Jeremy Corbyn Forms New Commons Group With Four Pro-Gaza MPs". BBC News. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  6. ^ Stacey, Kiran (5 July 2024). "Senior Labour figures admit stance on Gaza cost party seats". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  7. ^ Ford, Robert (7 July 2024). "Labour put 'safe' seats at risk to target marginals. It paid off – but there's a cost". The Observer. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  8. ^ Mulla, Imran. "UK election 2024: British-Palestinian Leanne Mohamad narrowly loses to Labour's Wes Streeting". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  9. ^ Kelly, Kieran. "Labour's Jess Phillips wins seat by less than 700 votes against candidate who said trans people are 'danger to society'". LBC. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  10. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey (18 May 2023). "Jeremy Corbyn tells local Labour party he wants to carry on as their MP". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Jeremy Corbyn confirms he will stand against Labour in Islington". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  12. ^ Dyer, Henry (5 July 2024). "Jeremy Corbyn re-elected in Islington North after expulsion from Labour". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  13. ^ Tahir, Tariq (5 July 2024). "Jeremy Corbyn Re-elected: Chants of 'free Palestine' as Former Leader Beats Labour". The National. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b Francis, Sam; Eardley, Nick (23 July 2024). "Labour suspends seven rebel MPs over two-child benefit cap". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b Bienkov, Adam (24 July 2024). "Keir Starmer's Suspension of Seven Labour MPs for Voting to Scrap the Two Child Benefit Cap is the Politics of Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings". Byline Times. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b c Gye, Hugo; Vaughan, Richard (24 July 2024). "Corbyn trying to form rebel alliance to fight Starmer after Labour benefits revolt". inews. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  17. ^ a b Marsh, Alex (25 July 2024). "Corbyn 'disappointed' with Labour and vows to work with suspended MPs". Islington Gazette. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Jeremy Corbyn in talks to form new group with independent MPs". BBC News. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  19. ^ * Penny, Eleanor; Denvir, Daniel (16 August 2024). Jeremy Corbyn on Palestine, the Labour Party, and Global Solidarity for the Verso Podcast (Video). Verso Books. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "Corbyn's new pro-Gaza UK parliamentary bloc slams Kemi Badenoch's 'Islamophobic slur'". The New Arab. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Riley, Henry (4 September 2024). "MP in Jeremy Corbyn's Independent Alliance blames Kemi Badenoch's 'Islamist' slur for death threat". LBC. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Cross-party support for Westminster bill to recognise Palestine statehood". The National. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  23. ^ "UK: Shockat Adam presents bill recognising Palestinian state to parliament". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Inquiry launched into the status of independent Members of Parliament - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  25. ^ a b Heale, James (10 December 2024). "Gaza independents to register new party". The Spectator. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  26. ^ Elgot, Jessica (2 September 2024). "Jeremy Corbyn to form alliance with four independent pro-Gaza MPs". The Guardian.
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