PhD candidate and Teaching Associate, Karl Pike, published an article for The Conversation on the seven MPs who have quit Labour to form the Independent Group. He writes: “It is, perhaps, the roots and philosophy that any new group will find most challenging. Like-minded Labour MPs are likely to be able to coalesce around shared principles and values, but what of an alternative political philosophy? On this, the two-page statement from the group is very weak. And on battling the established parties, what deals will a new group make with the Liberal Democrats? Do you target one of the two major parties or both? We now know more about why these MPs left Labour, but little about where they go from here, or what unites their thinking.”