Parliament Sees Shift in Political Landscape as Number of Independent MPs Grows

The number of independent MPs in Parliament has now reached 15, surpassing the Liberal Democrats for the first time, following the suspension of Andrew Bridgen from the Conservative Party. Bridgen’s suspension came after he made controversial comments on social media comparing the Covid vaccine to the Holocaust, prompting condemnation from the Tory chief whip, Simon Hart.

Of the 15 independent MPs, seven were formerly affiliated with Labour, while six were Conservatives. Additionally, the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru have each suspended the whip from one of their members. Despite their independent status, most of these MPs continue to vote in alignment with their previous parties.

Here’s a summary of the independent MPs and the circumstances surrounding their loss of party affiliation:

Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire): Suspended from the Conservative Party for offensive comments regarding the Covid vaccine.
Nick Brown (Newcastle-upon-Tyne East): Long-serving Labour MP suspended pending an internal investigation into an undisclosed complaint as of September 2022.
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): Former Labour leader suspended in 2020 after stating that concerns about antisemitism in the party were “dramatically overstated.” Although he has since had his membership reinstated, he remains outside the parliamentary Labour Party under current leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark): Labour suspended the whip over allegations of racist comments made to a journalist in February 2022.
Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): Plaid Cymru withdrew the whip in May 2020 following an arrest for assault. Although he was later offered readmission, he chose to remain independent.
Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): Suspended by the SNP in October 2020 for breaching Covid lockdown rules. She was ordered to complete community service after admitting to her violations.
Matt Hancock (West Suffolk): The former health secretary lost the Conservative whip in November 2022 after it was revealed he flew to Australia for a reality TV show while Parliament was in session.
Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton): Labour suspended her during its annual conference in September 2022 for comments deemed racist regarding then-chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.
Julian Knight (Solihull): His whip was suspended in December 2022 amid allegations of serious sexual assault, which he denies.
Conor McGinn (St Helens North): Suspended by Labour in December 2022 pending an internal investigation regarding an undisclosed complaint.
Chris Pincher (Tamworth): Lost the Conservative whip in July 2022 after resigning as deputy chief whip due to allegations of inappropriate conduct.
Christina Rees (Neath): Suspended from Labour in October 2022 following allegations of bullying made by staff in her constituency.
Rob Roberts (Delyn): Suspended in May 2021 for making unwanted advances towards a staff member, leading to a six-week suspension from the Commons.
David Warburton (Somerton and Frome): Had the Conservative whip removed in April 2022 following allegations of sexual harassment and drug use, which he denies.
Claudia Webbe (Leicester East): Has been an independent MP since September 2020 after being charged with harassment.
The suspension of Bridgen and the subsequent rise in independent MPs reflect a shifting political landscape within Parliament, raising questions about party loyalty and the future of political affiliations.