Chuka Umunna: Remain parties need to work closer together to break the two-party system
2 min read
Change UK MP Chuka Ummana has called for more co-operation between pro-Remain parties to prevent “a choice between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson”.
Mr Umunna resigned from the Labour party in February along with sis other MPs in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s approach to Brexit and anti-Semitism.
The breakaway Labour MPs formed Change UK party and were joined by Conservative MPs Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen and Anna Soubry.
Writing in the i newspaper, Umunna called for Change UK, the Lib Dems, the Green Party and Renew to “work even more closely together” to “break the dysfunctional two-party system”.
He also added that no single party could stop Brexit and that “we all must find a way to come together”.
Mr Umunna also admitted his party had made mistakes in not working with other Remain parties sooner.
He said: “Perhaps we all could and should have done more to address this. Unfortunately, there was simply not enough time to resolve these issues before nominations closed.
However, he added: “Despite this, Change UK has engaged in an unprecedented level of cross-party co-operation since we formed, endorsing other Remain parties in the local elections, co-sponsoring amendments in Parliament to promote a people’s vote and remaining in the EU, and putting in a joint application with the Liberal Democrats for an Opposition Day debate on these issues in the Commons.”
Mr Umunna also warned against Mr Corbyn being elected Prime Minister.
He said: “Britain could be faced with a choice between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson. We all have a duty to ensure there is an alternative, one that can win the trust of the British people and put us back on the right course.
“This, I hope, is a cause we can all unite around to change politics and Britain for the better.”
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