Another three MPs have left their leading parties to join newly-formed Independent Group, but who are they?

Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen announced their defection in a joint statement via Twitter. They stated in a letter to the Prime Minister that "Brexit has re—defined the Conservative Party — undoing all the efforts to modernise it."

The Remainer Conservatives made the dramatic move on Wednesday, joining former Labour Party colleagues Chuka Umunna and Luciana Berger who announced their resignation on Monday.

Sarah Wollaston

The Herald: Dr Sarah Wollaston. Credit: PADr Sarah Wollaston. Credit: PA

The Conservative Party member for Totnes in Devon and chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee and the Liason Commitee in the House of Commons is a former GP who entered politics in 2010.

An outspoken Pro-Euro politician, Dr Wollaston warned members of her own party this week that their move towards a hardline stance on Brexit risked alienating moderate voters, saying: "there will be nothing left at all to appeal to moderate centre ground voters." 

Her comments heightened speculation that she would be one of a new wave of MPs who would defect to the newly formed breakaway group.

Heidi Allen

The Herald: Heidi Allen. Credit: PAHeidi Allen. Credit: PA

MP for South Cambridgeshire, Ms Allen was another member expected to join the ranks of the newly-formed party after her social media activity hinted at her future.

On Monday she shared an article co-written by her, Jo Swinson and Thangam Debbonaire on a new cross-party campaign.

An MP since 2015, Ms Allen has been a strong advocate of remining in the EU, calling for a People's Vote over Brexit.

Anna Soubry

The Herald: Anna Soubry. Credit: PAAnna Soubry. Credit: PA

The Rt Hon Anna Soubry has been the member for Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire since 2010 and has held significant positions in Parliament since 2012 including Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans and  Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise.

The fomer barrister and journalist has a reputation in the House of Commons for speaking her mind.

In January she was verbally abused outside the Houses of Parliament by 'yellow vest' protestors who branded Ms Soubry a "Nazi" during a television interview.

During the Article 50 debate in March 2017, Ms Soubry spoke on the importance of keeping options open when it came Brexit negotiations. She has been a staunch campaigner for a second referendum on Theresa May's proposed Brexit Deal.