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Political party 'Change UK' forced to change its name again

The British political party Change UK has been forced to change its name again. In February, seve...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

18.27 13 Jun 2019


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Political party 'Change UK' fo...

Political party 'Change UK' forced to change its name again

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

18.27 13 Jun 2019


Share this article


The British political party Change UK has been forced to change its name again.

In February, seven MPs resigned from the Labour party to form the Independent Group.

It included MPs who have prominently called for a 'people's vote' or second Brexit referendum, as well as critics of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

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They were later joined by three defecting members of the Conservative party.

Ahead of the European elections, the Independent Group changed its name to Change UK in order to register as a political party.

In a statement today, however, the political group said lawyers of petition website Change.org disputed the party's right to register as Change UK.

The group explained: "Under threat of legal action by Change.org, which would have involved each MP being sued personally, and with no time left to register a new party name to contest the elections, our leadership at the time felt we had no option but to sign a legal agreement preventing the permanent use of the name Change UK once the campaign was over.

"We are now legally obliged to make a formal application to the Electoral Commission, to amend our name by 15th June, so today we are applying to register ourselves as 'The Independent Group for Change' and will await the Electoral Commission's decision."

They pledged to continue 'tackling the big issues facing the country' - including avoiding a no-deal Brexit.

In March, The Guardian quoted a Change.org source as saying they were seeking legal advice over the new party's name, suggesting they couldn't "allow ourselves to be hijacked in this way".

The latest development comes just a week after six of the party's MPs left the new party, leaving only five representatives.

Remaining members chose ex-Tory Anna Soubry as the new leader.

Change UK received around 3% of the vote in last month's EU elections, but didn't secure any European Parliament seats.

Main image: File photo of Anna Soubry speaking during a Change UK rally. Picture by: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire/PA Images

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