Monday 07 October 2019 9:43 pm

Ex-Tory MP Heidi Allen joins Liberal Democrats

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 30: Change UK MP Heidi Allen speaks during a People’s Vote Remain rally for the European elections by newly formed political party Change UK in London on April 30, 2019 in London, England. Change UK – The Independent Group, was formed in February 2019 by breakaway members of Parliaments from Conservative and Labour parties. The group are pro European Union and are calling for a people’s vote on Britains’s exit from the union. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

Former Conservative MP Heidi Allen has joined the Liberal Democrats, the party announced this evening.

The MP for South Cambridgeshire left the Conservative Party in February 2019 over its stance on Brexit. She plans to contest her seat as a Liberal Democrat when an election is announced.

She headed up a new Change UK party before quitting in June after its poor performance European elections to build a “Remain Alliance” of anti-Brexit independent MPs.

Allen has followed three former Tory colleagues to join the Lib Dems, after Sarah Wollaston, Philip Lee and Sam Gyimah joined the pro-Remain party. Former Labour MPs Chuka Umunna, Angela Smith and Luciana Berger also joined the Lib Dems in recent months.

At least 20 more “One Nation” Tories would also like to defect, Allen told The Independent.

In a statement this evening Allen said: “As we face the monumental task ahead of stopping a damaging Brexit, healing the rifts in society and rebuilding the UK, there is only one party with the honesty, energy and vision to do that – and that is the Liberal Democrats under the leadership of Jo Swinson”.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said she was “delighted” to accept Allen into the party.

“She has long been an ally in the fight to stop Brexit, and having worked with her I know the energy and passion she will bring to our party,” Swinson said.

Main image credit: Getty