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Change UK launches European election campaign Change UK launches European election campaign
(32 minutes later)
Change UK is launching its campaign for the European Parliamentary elections, with candidates including journalist Rachel Johnson - sister of Tory MP and leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson. Change UK is launching its campaign for the European Parliamentary elections, with 70 candidates including journalist Rachel Johnson - sister of Tory MP and leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson.
The party - formerly known as The Independent Group - is made up of 11 MPs who quit Labour and the Tories.The party - formerly known as The Independent Group - is made up of 11 MPs who quit Labour and the Tories.
They are preparing for the vote as the latest Brexit delay means the UK may have to take part. They are preparing for the European election as the latest Brexit delay means the UK may have to take part.
Former BBC correspondent Gavin Esler is another of its 70 candidates. Change UK are a pro-Remain party who back another referendum on Brexit.
Mr Esler, who has never stood for an election before, said UK politics was "a worldwide joke", adding: "It is broken." Interim leader Heidi Allen told the event in Bristol: "These elections are a chance to send the clearest possible message - we demand a People's Vote and the right to campaign to remain in the European Union. We are not afraid to say it as clearly as that.
Change UK interim leader Heidi Allen said the party would be the "natural home" for Remain voters. "This is no rebel alliance. This is the home of the Remain alliance."
Ahead of the launch in Bristol, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the candidate list was made up of former members of the Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens - as well as some non-political individuals - and people were starting to call them "the Remain Alliance".
A number of parties have begun launching their campaigns for the European Parliamentary elections after Theresa May agreed a Brexit delay until 31 October with the EU.A number of parties have begun launching their campaigns for the European Parliamentary elections after Theresa May agreed a Brexit delay until 31 October with the EU.
Mrs May said the UK could still exit before this date if her withdrawal agreement is approved by Parliament.Mrs May said the UK could still exit before this date if her withdrawal agreement is approved by Parliament.
But, if not, the country is likely to have to hold European Parliament elections. But, if not, the country is likely to have to hold European Parliament elections on 23 May.
The beginnings of Change UK
The Independent Group was formed after eight Labour MPs and three Tory MPs left their parties in February.The Independent Group was formed after eight Labour MPs and three Tory MPs left their parties in February.
The three Conservative MPs blamed "a shift to the right" in their party and the government's "disastrous handling of Brexit", while Labour MP cited their party's stance on leaving the EU, along with the leadership's handling of anti-Semitism.The three Conservative MPs blamed "a shift to the right" in their party and the government's "disastrous handling of Brexit", while Labour MP cited their party's stance on leaving the EU, along with the leadership's handling of anti-Semitism.
In March, the group applied to become a party with the name Change UK and was given approval in April, meaning they could field candidates in the European elections.In March, the group applied to become a party with the name Change UK and was given approval in April, meaning they could field candidates in the European elections.
Ms Allen described her new party as "a solid pro-Remain, pro-People's Vote party for people to put their cross against on the ballot paper". After about 3,700 applications, 70 candidates were picked, including ex-BBC correspondent Gavin Esler.
She said it was treating its first test at the ballot box "very, very seriously indeed", as the campaign itself would "send the loudest possible message to both the government and the opposition about how people in the UK feel about leaving and the deal that is currently on the table". He said UK politics was "a worldwide joke", and accused pro-Brexit campaigners, such as Nigel Farage, of "stealing our patriotism".
She added: "Later, people will see where [our candidates] come from. Political and non-political, public sector and private sector, people are gravitating towards us. "We know Britain is better than the brain-dead politics of the past. We know Change UK is the only all-UK party to bring about changes.
"This is the beginning of the story for Change UK." "Ask yourself, what time is it? It is time for a change - it is time for Change UK."
Last week, ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage launched his new Brexit Party, and on Tuesday, the party announced five new candidates for the European elections. Change UK MP Anna Soubry said: "No ifs no buts, no backroom deals... we were never on the fence, we always believed it and now we demand it... a People's Vote.
"If MPs can change their minds and change their votes, so can the British people. It is undemocratic, it is plain wrong, to deny people the rights of this country that are enjoyed in Parliament."
Who is Rachel Johnson?
The sister of former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is a writer and newspaper columnist.
She has previously said she joined the Conservatives in 2008, inspired by a dinner party discussion with David Cameron, but left in 2011, complaining she was treated "like the brainwashed member of a cult".
In April 2017, she joined the Liberal Democrats, saying that the country could "be going over a cliff in a hard Brexit".
Ms Johnson was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
Who is Gavin Esler?
Glasgow-born Gavin Esler started a career in journalism at the The Belfast Telegraph before joining the BBC during the Northern Ireland Troubles.
During a long career at the corporation, he was the BBC's chief North America correspondent, based in Washington, and a presenter of Newsnight.
He has written five novels and two non-fiction books, and is currently Chancellor of the University of Kent.
He spoke in favour of a "final say on the Brexit deal" at a rally for the People's Vote campaign in Scotland in August last year.
Brexit Party announces new candidates
Last week, ex-UKIP leader Mr Farage launched his new Brexit Party, and on Tuesday, the party announced five new candidates for the European elections.
They include left-wing activist Claire Fox, former Royal Marine James Glancy and charity CEO Matthew Patten.They include left-wing activist Claire Fox, former Royal Marine James Glancy and charity CEO Matthew Patten.
Nigel Farage said the group would be targeting areas with Labour MPs that voted Leave in the referendum.Nigel Farage said the group would be targeting areas with Labour MPs that voted Leave in the referendum.
He added: "Brexit is not about left or right. It is about right and wrong."He added: "Brexit is not about left or right. It is about right and wrong."
Who is standing in the European elections?
The European Parliamentary elections are expected to take place in the UK on 23 May - if the UK has not left the EU by that date.
The UK is divided into 11 regions and parties can put forward a list of candidates for each one.
The deadline for nominations for candidates is 16:00 BST on Wednesday 24 April for the South West Region (including Gibraltar) and 16:00 on Thursday 25 for all other candidates.
But the lists of candidates announced so far include: