Sarah Wollaston has joined the Liberal Democrats, the party has announced.
The Totnes MP defected from the Conservative party to Change UK in February, over the Tories’ ”disastrous handling of Brexit.”
She then left Change UK in June to sit as an independent.
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.
From
15p
€0.18
$0.18
USD 0.27
a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.
“I am delighted to be joining the Liberal Democrats,” the 57-year-old said on Wednesday.
“I believe the best way for me to represent my constituents in Totnes is to be working as apart of a fantastic team of Liberal Democrat MPs who are unequivocally making the case for us to remain at the heart of Eurioe, as well as campaigning for social justice, the environment and our public services.”
left
Created with Sketch.
right
Created with Sketch.
The former Change UK MP was welcomed with a statement from her new party leader.
“I am thrilled that Sarah has chosen to join the Liberal Democrats,” Jo Swinson said.
“Sarah is a fierce campaigner who I have enjoyed working with in the campaign to stop Brexit and as one of the most respected Members of Parliament and brings real expertise to our team.
“She is one of more than 40,000 people who have joined us since May in rejecting the politics of nationalism and populism, showing it is the Liberal Democrats who can deliver an alternative vision for our country.
“As the strongest party for Remainers, we will lead the fight to stop Brexit.”
Ms Wollaston is the second former Change UK MP to join the Liberal Democrats.
Chuka Umunna, a former Labour MP, left Change UK in June and joined the pro-European party shortly afterwards.
“Welcome to the team [Sarah Wollaston]!” Tom Brake, a Liberal Democrat MP, said on Twitter, as the news emerged.
Fellow MP Christine Jardine added :”She will be a fantastic addition as we work to build a liberal Britain that remains in the EU when we stop Brexit.”
Ms Wollaston’s decision to leave the Change UK followed disappointing election results where the fledgling party failed to make gains.
The Liberal Democrats appear resurgent and have benefited from the Brexit crisis, winning moderate voters from the Conservatives.
Support free-thinking journalism and subscribe to Independent Minds
Jo Swinson is also targeting some Labour voters, by exploiting the party’s perceived lack of clarity on Brexit.
The latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox
The latest news on Brexit, politics and beyond direct to your inbox
Ms Wollaston struck a blow against Theresa May when she left the Conservatives alongside Heidi Allen and Anna Soubry in February, as the moderate trio helped form the new group of independents.
The Totnes MP, who first won the seat in 2010, is expected to join Ms Swinson in London on Thursday as the 39-year-old makes her first major speech as party leader.