Gang of Seven ex-Labour MPs told to have the courage of their convictions and trigger by-elections

MPs who have quit the Labour party to form a new independent alliance are facing growing pressure to trigger by-elections.

Seven MPs – Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Ann Coffey, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Chuka Umunna – announced on Monday morning they had resigned from Labour in protest at the party’s approach to anti-Semitism and the EU.

Read more: Labour pains: Seven MPs quit to start new political alliance

The seven have refused to trigger by-elections, with Leslie saying they are “absolutely not what is needed right now” as the country grapples with Brexit.

However, within hours of the press conference, the chair of Umunna’s former constituency party in Streatham was demanding a by-election.

In an email to members, Joel Bodmer said: “I believe the electorate of Streatham will continue to want to be represented by a Labour MP.

“I am therefore writing to Chuka today, thanking him for all his work as our Labour MP, and asking him to immediately call a by election, to allow the people of Streatham to have their say.”

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon also called for the seven to go back to the voters in light of their actions.

Chuka's coalition claims to speak for the nation but these MPs no longer have a mandate even to speak for their own constituents.

People elected them to be Labour MPs on a Labour Manifesto. They should have the courage of their convictions and allow by-elections in their areas.

— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) February 18, 2019

During the unveiling of the split, the seven MPs were asked if they would seek the endorsement of their constituents.

Leslie replied: “We are at a time of massive upheaval and crisis, and elections – general elections, by-elections – are absolutely not what is needed right now.

“We were elected in 2017, in our constitution you don’t just vote for a delegate with a particular party colour you vote for an individual and we feel that it’s a fundamental principle in a parliamentary system that we use our judgement and our integrity to guide how we react to different events and circumstances.”

Read more: McDonnell denies Labour MPs may quit party over Brexit

While there is no constitutional rule that says a defecting MP should trigger a by-election, former Conservative MPs Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless did go back to the voters in 2014 when they switched to UKIP – although Carswell did not repeat that in 2017 when he sat as an independent.