The newly-formed Independent Group in Britain has said it intends to run candidates in the European Parliament elections.

The group is made up of MPs who quit the British Labour and Conservative parties, over differences on Brexit.

In a statement, the group said it has applied to register as a political party in the UK to stand candidates in "any European elections that come about as a result of a long extension of the Article 50 process."

Britain will have to hold elections to the European Parliament as a condition of any further delay to Brexit.

The group said: "In order to be able to put forward candidates on regional lists under the system of proportional representation used to elect Members of the European Parliament, any group must be registered as a political party with the [British] Electoral Commission (EC).

"The EC has advised that should the UK government decide to hold these elections polling day will most probably be on Thursday 23 May, with close of nominations for MEP candidates falling on Wednesday 24 April.

"Those wishing to register a new political party in time to stand candidates have been advised to submit their application 'urgently', though there is no guarantee of registration in time for nominations."

The Independent Group has submitted an application to establish itself under the name 'Change UK - The Independent Group'.

The group said: "All of The Independent Group MPs will continue to perform their current roles for the group."

MP Heidi Allen has also been appointed to become interim leader of the new party.

Chuka Umunna, the group's spokesperson, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the public support for our group since we were established last month, with tens of thousands or people all over the country signing up as supporters.

"There is clearly an appetite for an alternative to our broken politics which needs fundamental change, as shown by the disastrous Brexit process which has occurred under the watch of the two main parties.

"A new party will shake up the two-party system and provide people with an alternative that can change our country for the better.

"This is what Change UK will be aiming to do at any European elections if our application for registration is accepted in time."

He added: "The Independent Group is a diverse group of MPs which reflects modern Britain, drawn from different generations and backgrounds including a former GP, teacher, lecturer, social worker, solicitor and TV presenter."

"We intend to draw on all the voices of our group in any European election campaign. We will seek to put forward a substantial number of MEP candidates with backgrounds from outside of politics."

Main image: Independent Group MPs (left to right) Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna, Heidi Allen and Ann Coffey speaking to the media in London about becoming a fully-fledged political party | Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images